KSH: in February consumer prices exceeded those of a year earlier by an average of 5.6 percent

Compared to February last year, food prices increased by 7.1 percent, with flour prices up 44.3 percent, cooking oil prices up 27.5 percent, eggs up 24.7 percent, milk prices up 22.5 percent, butter and buttercream prices up 19.2 percent, coffee prices up 16.1 percent, fruit and vegetable juices up 14.5 percent, chocolate and cocoa prices up 13.8 percent, and dairy products up 10.9 percent. Within the product group, the price of dry pasta decreased by 4.4 percent.

According to the Central Statistical Office (KSH), services increased in price by 9.2 percent, including postal services by 16.8, telephone and internet by 14.9, rent by 12.2, home repair and maintenance by 10.4, vehicle repair and maintenance by 10.3, and personal care services by 9.4 percent.

The price of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products increased by 5.0 percent, including tobacco products by 4.9 percent.

The price of durable consumer goods increased by 1.6 percent, including jewelry by 18.9, new passenger cars by 6.6, room furniture by 2.9 percent, and used passenger cars by 2.9 percent.

Household energy costs fell by 0.2 percent, with the price of firewood falling by 4.9 percent, while bottled gas costs rose by 10.1 percent, electricity by 0.6 percent, and pipeline gas by 0.1 percent.

Vehicle fuels rose by 3.8 percent, and pharmaceuticals and medical supplies by 3.2 percent in one year.

Compared to January, consumer prices increased by an average of 0.8 percent in one month. Food prices increased by an average of 1.2 percent, including cooking oil by 5.4, coffee by 5.2, margarine by 4.4, seasonal foods (potatoes, fresh vegetables, fresh domestic and tropical fruits in total) by 3.8, bread by 3.3, sausages and French fries by 2.7, chocolate, cocoa by 2.3, butter and buttercream by 2.0, and poultry by 1.9 percent. At the same time, the price of milk decreased by 2.6 and that of pork by 0.8 percent.