KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 15
Remittance inflows increased by 31.4 percent to Rs 687.13 billion in the first four months of FY 2025/26, compared to a 9.4 percent rise in the same period of the previous fiscal year.
During mid-October to mid-November (Kartik), remittance inflows amounted to Rs 133.82 billion, up from Rs 114.31 billion in the corresponding period last year. In US dollar terms, remittance inflows grew by 25.3 percent to USD 4.88 billion during the review period, compared to an 8.2 percent increase in the same period of the previous year, according to the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation report released by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Thursday, based on data from the past four months.
During the review period, the number of Nepali workers-both institutional and individual-seeking first-time approval for foreign employment stood at 145,973, while those obtaining approval for re-entry totaled 127,837. In the corresponding period of the previous year, these figures were 147,478 and 94,105, respectively.
Furthermore, the NRB report states that the current account recorded a surplus of Rs 279.65 billion during the review period, compared to a surplus of Rs 147.78 billion in the same period last year. In US dollar terms, the current account surplus stood at USD 1.99 billion, up from USD 1.10 billion a year earlier.
Likewise, net capital transfer amounted to Rs 6.21 billion, compared to Rs 2.47 billion in the same period of the previous year. Similarly, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (equity only) totaled Rs 2.49 billion during the review period.
The Balance of Payments (BoP) remained in surplus at Rs 318.40 billion, up from Rs 205.83 billion in the corresponding period last year. Meanwhile, gross foreign exchange reserves increased by 14.1 percent to Rs 3,055.52 billion in mid-November 2025, from Rs 2,677.68 billion in mid-July 2025.
In US dollar terms, gross foreign exchange reserves rose by 10.3 percent to USD 21.52 billion in mid-November 2025, compared to USD 19.50 billion in mid-July 2025, the central bank stated.
Meanwhile, consumer price inflation stood at 1.11 percent in mid-November 2025, down sharply from 5.60 percent a year earlier. Food and beverage inflation declined by 3.32 percent, while non-food and services inflation stood at 3.69 percent during the review month.
Average inflation during the first four months of the current fiscal year stood at 1.53 percent, compared to 4.59 percent in the same period last year.
On a provincial basis, year-on-year consumer price inflation in the review month stood at 1.80 percent in Koshi Province, 1.73 percent in Madhesh Province, 0.81 percent in Bagmati Province, 0.37 percent in Gandaki Province, 1.27 percent in Lumbini Province, 1.08 percent in Karnali Province, and 0.26 percent in Sudurpashchim Province.
Similarly, year-on-year consumer price inflation in the Kathmandu Valley, Tarai, Hill, and Mountain regions stood at 1.16 percent, 1.24 percent, 0.88 percent, and 1.06 percent, respectively, the NRB added.