Inflation cuts deeper as food and fuel costs strain households
Summary
Inflation in Nepal has reached a 16-month high with food and fuel prices rising sharply, straining household budgets and making daily essentials increasingly unaffordable for many.
Key Points
- Consumer inflation in Nepal reached 5.04 percent in mid-May, the highest in 16 months.
- Food and beverage inflation increased to 4.63 percent, with significant price rises in fruits, ghee, oil, vegetables, meat, and fish.
- Fuel prices surged, with petrol up 38.21 percent, diesel by 58 percent, and LPG by 13 percent, heavily impacting consumers.
- Experts and consumer rights activists argue official inflation rates underestimate the real market situation, pointing to rises closer to 8-10 percent due to factors including fuel prices and market syndicates.
