Urban inflation rate rose by 1.4 per cent in January compared to the same period last year, the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) reported yesterday.

On a monthly basis, urban inflation decreased by 0.5 per cent compared to 0.3 per cent in December 2014, reflecting an annual average rate of 1.7 per cent, the report added. Rwanda focuses on urban consumer price index (CPI) to shape monitory policy.

Lucie Mutetijabiro, the head of price statistics research team at the NISR, said the rise in urban CPI was mainly attributed to increase in food and non-alcoholic beverages.

According to the report, the underlying inflation rate (excluding fresh food and energy) decreased by 0.2 per cent when compared to December 2014 and increased by 1.8 per cent year-on-year. 

As a result, annual average underlying inflation rate is currently established at 2.6 per cent, NISR said.While the CPI for foodstuff increased by 1.2 per cent, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels increased by 3.7 per cent.

The index for restaurant and hotels was established at 4.7 per cent in January.

However, the biggest negative contribution to the CPI came from transport, which registered 0.7 per cent.On an annual basis, the local goods index increased by 1.8 per cent, with imported good fresh products index increasing by 0.5 per cent.

However, the index for energy increased by 0.3 per cent, leaving the general index – excluding fresh products and energy – at 1.8 per cent.

On a monthly basis, the local goods index decreased by 0.3 per cent; the imported goods index decreased by 0.9 per cent, the fresh products index decreased by 1.0 per cent, the energy index decreased by 1.6 per cent, and the core index decreased by 0.2 per cent.

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