Price of houshold goods up by 13pc

Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, April 1:

Prices of houshold goods and services increased by 13.3 per cent recently, states a survey of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).

As a whole, prices of non-food and services group increased by 5.7 per cent compared to an increase of 5.9 per cent last year. Similarly, price of education, reading and recreation increased by 4 per cent, medical and personal care 2.3 per cent, cloth, clothing and sewing services 1.8 per cent, says the NRB report.

“Tobacco and related products’ prices increased by 1.3 per cent as well as price for transport and communication (0.7 per cent), while that of the footwear declined by 0.4 per cent.

Region-wise, prices in the Kathmandu valley, terai and hills increased by 5.3 per cent, 4.3 per cent and 3.6 per cent, respectively. Such prices had increased by 6.9 per cent, 4.1 per cent and 4.4 per cent respectively last year, says the NRB. The prices of food and beverages group rose in Kathmandu Valley 4 per cent, Terai 3.4 per cent and hills 2.5 per cent. Similarly, the price of non-food and services group increased in Kathmandu valley, terai and hills by 6.7 per cent, 5.5 per cent and 4.8 per cent respectively.

The national wholesale price index increased by 6.9 per cent compared to an increase of 7.0 per cent last year. The growth in the prices is attributed to the rise in the prices of petroleum products and coal, construction materials, food-grains including transport vehicles and machinery goods. However, there is a decline in the price of fruits and vegetables as well as spices.

The price of imported goods increased by 10.8 per cent, while the price of domestically produced goods increased only by 7.2 per cent. Similarly, the price of agricultural commodities increased by 4.1 per cent. The average national wholesale price index increased by 5.8 per cent compared to a rise of 4.4 per cent last year, says the report.