Rwanda’s inflation rate increased to 8.1 per cent during the month of February year-on-year, the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) consumer price index (CPI) monthly report indicates. Last month, inflation was recorded at 7.4 per cent.

The increase was mainly driven by rising prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, that rose by 17.6 per cent, housing, water electricity, gas and other fuels which were up 2.1 per cent, and transport costs that expanded by 8.3 per cent, according to the statistics body.

Rwanda uses urban CPI to measure price movements of a selected basket of goods and services.

According to the report released yesterday, monthly inflation rose by 1.1 per cent in February 2017. During the month, prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages, and cost of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels increased by 1.9 per cent and 0.8 per cent, respectively.

Underlying inflation rate, excluding fresh food and energy, was up by 0.5 per cent compared to January, and increased by 5.6 per cent on annual basis (February 2016). The annual average underlying inflation rate is 4.5 per cent.