Inflation drops to 3.25 per cent as of mid-Feb

By TRN Online, Kathmandu, March 11: Consumer price inflation (CPI) based inflation contained to 3.25 per cent as on mid-Feb on year-on-year basis (YoY).

According to the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) monthly report released today, in the same period of the previous fiscal year (FY) the inflation was recorded 4.16 per cent. Food and beverage inflation stood at 2.50 per cent whereas non-food and service inflation stood at 3.66 per cent in the review month.

During the same period in the previous year, the price indices of these group had increased 4.95 per cent and 3.74 per cent respectively. 

The average inflation stood at 1.92 per cent during the review period of the current fiscal year compared to 4.86 per cent a year ago.

Under the food and beverage category, y-o-y price index of vegetable sub-category increased 11.63 per cent, ghee & oil 7.61 per cent and fruit 7.14 per cent while y-o-y indices of pulses & legumes sub-category decreased 5.19 per cent, cereal grain & their products 2.97 per cent and spices 2.61 per cent. 

Under the non-food and services category, y-o-y price index of miscellaneous good & services sub-category increased 21.98 per cent, education 7.46 per cent, clothes and footwear 5.28 per cent, tobacco products 4.15 per cent and alcoholic drinks 3.85 per cent while y-o-y price index of communication sub-category decreased 0.08 per cent. 

The NRB report showed that during the review month, y-o-y price index in rural areas increased 2.52 per cent while in urban areas, it rose 3.51 per cent. 

The report showed that remittance inflows increased 39.8 per cent to Rs 126.01 billion in the seven months of 2025/26 compared to an increase of 7.5 per cent in the same period of the previous year. During mid-January to mid-February (Magh month), remittance inflows stood at Rs 198.08 billion. In the same period of the previous year, such inflows were Rs.137.50 billion. 

During the seven months of 2025/26, merchandise exports increased 32.2 per cent to Rs 168.15 billion compared to a growth of 46.5 per cent in the same period of the previous year. 

During the seven months of 2025/26, merchandise imports increased 13.6 per cent to Rs 1123.49 billion compared to a growth of 10.1 per cent a year ago.