KATHMANDU, MAY 11Everyday goods and services cost 4.47 percent more in mid-April 2026 compared to a year ago, with cooking oil, fruits, and vegetables among the biggest contributors to rising household expenses, according to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).The figure marks a sharp increase from 3.39 percent inflation recorded in the same period last year.Urban households felt the pinch more than rural ones, with city dwellers facing 4.74 percent inflation against 3.71 percent in rural areas.Among food items, ghee and oil prices jumped 12.87 percent, fruits rose 11.67 percent, and vegetables climbed 9.18 percent.Some relief came from falling prices of pulses and legumes, down 2.78 percent, cereals by 1.68 percent, and spices by 1.64 percent. Overall food and beverage inflation stood at 4.01 percent.Outside food, the cost of miscellaneous goods and services surged 19.94 percent, the steepest rise in any category, while transport costs increased 12.03 percent and education expenses rose 7.46 percent. Clothes and footwear became 4.73 percent more expensive. Non-food and services inflation overall stood at 4.72 percent.Among the seven provinces, Lumbini recorded the highest inflation at 5.15 percent, followed by Koshi at 4.98 percent and Madhesh at 4.91 percent. Bagmati province, which includes Kathmandu, recorded 4.20 percent. Sudurpashchim saw the lowest at 3.39 percent.The Kathmandu Valley specifically recorded 4.69 percent inflation, while the Terai region saw the highest geographic inflation at 4.83 percent. Mountain districts remained the least affected at 3.20 percent.Despite the mid-April spike, the average inflation for the first nine months of the current fiscal year stood at 2.39 percent - significantly lower than the 4.57 percent average recorded in the same period last year.
