Inflation increases to 5.4% in January 2020

February 03, 2020

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Sri Lanka’s inflation, as measured by the change in the Colombo Consumers’ Price Index (CCPI), increased to 5.4% in January 2020 from 4.8 in December 2019, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka reported. This was driven by monthly increase of prices of items in both Food and Non-food categories. Food inflation (Y-o-Y) increased substantially to a 25-month high of 11.7% in January 2020 from 6.35 in December 2019, while Nonfood inflation (Y-o-Y) stood at 2.9 per cent. The change in the CCPI measured on an annual average basis increased marginally to 4.4 per cent in January 2020 from 4.3 per cent in December 2019. Monthly change of CCPI recorded at 1.4 per cent in January 2020 and it was due to the price increases observed in the items of both Food and Non-food categories. Within the Food category, prices of vegetables increased significantly due to supply shortages caused by adverse weather conditions prevailed during the previous month. In addition, prices of coconut, red onions and fresh fruits also recorded increases in January 2020. Meanwhile, prices of items in the Non-Food category recorded an increase during the month owing to price increases of the items in Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and other fuels (housing rent); Education (tuition fee); and Restaurants and Hotels sub-categories. However, reflecting the downward tax revisions introduced by the government with effect from 01st December 2019, prices of items in Health and Communication sub-categories decreased in January 2020. The core inflation, which reflects the underlying inflation in the economy, decreased to 3.0 per cent in January 2020 from 4.8 per cent in December 2019 on year-on-year basis. Annual average core inflation also decreased to 5.3 per cent in January 2020 from 5.5 per cent in December 2019.