Housing, water Electricity, Gas and other fuels index went up by 0.39 percent due to increase in the cost of house rents, kerosene and other cooking fuels which outweighed observed lower costs in electricity/FILE
Just like in the month of January, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) attributed the increase to rise in food prices, transport costs and housing.
Housing, water Electricity, Gas and other fuels index went up by 0.39 percent due to increase in the cost of house rents, kerosene and other cooking fuels which outweighed observed lower costs in electricity.
The transport Index went up by 0.58 percent due to higher cost in petrol, taxi and matatu fares.
The price of a kilo of kales went up the highest by 8.96 percent from Sh34.08 in January to Sh37.14, followed by a packet of 500ml fresh milk which went up by 7.52 percent from Sh38.31 to Sh41.19.
Average price for a kilo of tomatoes went up by 2.22 percent from Sh72.78 to Sh74.40 while the price of a kilogramme of meat rose to Sh333.51 compared with Sh331.49 in the month of January.
“Between the month of January and February, food and non alcoholic drinks index increase by 1.29 percent. The increase in the food index was a consequence of rises and falls in the average prices of various food items,” KNBS said in its monthly statement.
There was a decline in the communication’s index which was attributed to some observed falls in airtime charges.
In the month of January overall rate of inflation rose to 3.67 percent compared to 3.20 percent in December 2012, which was the first rise in the last 12 months.
