Kenya’s monthly inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index(CPI) fell to 5.7% in March compared to 6.3% in February, the first time it has fallen below 6% in two years.
- According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), inflation dropped due to price drops of everyday items such as fuel, and maize flour.
- Kenyan households saw a fall in the prices of kerosene which was down by 2.3 per cent.
- In addition, prices of 200 kWh and 50 kWh of electricity dropped by 0.3 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively, during the period.
The Transport Index decreased by 0.6 percent between February 2024 and March 2024 due to a drop in prices of petrol and diesel by 3.5 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively.
Kenyans paid more for LPG/Gas with a 13Kg cylinder selling at KSh 3,187.10 in February to KSh 3231.84 in March 2024. This 1.4% increase in Gas/LPG prices pushed the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels Index by 0.2 percent.
Food Prices
On the list of food items, Kenyans paid less for carrots from an average of KSh 107.69 per kilogram in February to an average of KSh 104.67 per kilogram in March 2024, a drop of 2.8%. White Wheat flour prices declined on average from KSh 200.41 per kilo in February to KSh 190.72 per kilo in March 2024.
- The average price of maize grains declined by 4.9% from KSh 68.67 per kilo in February to KSh 65.31 per kilo in March.
- Sugar prices also dropped in March to KSh 189.45 per kilo in March from KSh 200.1 per kilo in February, a decline of 5.3%.
- The price of a 2 kg packet of shifted maize flour declined by 5.8% from KSh 154.54 in February to KSh 145.57 in March.
The highest price increase in the food basket was onions whose price increased from KSh 150.63 per kilo in February to KSh 167.28 per kilo in March. Other food items that have recorded price increases include Mangoes, Potatoes, Oranges, Cabbages, Tomatoes, and Beef.
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