KNBS Report Reveals List of Basic Items Whose Prices Have Increased in March

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has tabled a list of basic items whose prices increased adding more pressure on Kenyans.

According to the latest data, prices of food items, gas, electricity, transport and housing generally increased in March this year.

The increase was higher compared to March 2023, KNBS observed.

"This means that in March 2024, the general price level was 5.7 per cent higher than that March 2023. This was mainly driven by increases in prices of commodities under Transport (9.7%); Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and other fuels (8.0%); and Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (5.8%) between March 2023 and March 2024, "KNBS report read in part.

Besides the above-listed items, KNBS observed that the prices of onions- leeks and bulbs, mangoes and potatoes (Irish) increased by 11.1, 8.0 and 7.7 per cent, respectively. 

The Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels Index increased by 0.2 per cent between February 2024 and March 2024 mainly due to the increase in prices of gas/LPG by 1.4 per cent.

 However, during the same review period, the prices of kerosene went down by 2.3 per cent. In addition, prices of 200 kWh and 50 kWh of electricity dropped by 0.3 per cent and 0.4 per cent, respectively, during the period. 

Nonetheless, some food items recorded a slight drop during this period as indicated by KNBS. The items include a kilogram of carrots which dropped by 2.8 per cent, a 2-kilogram packet of wheat flour reduced by 4.8 per cent, maize grain (loose) also dropped by 4.9 per cent, while fortified maize flour showed a 5.1 per cent drop in prices.

Sugar which was among the food items whose prices had hit the roof also recorded a significant drop of 5.3 per cent.

The prices of food items are expected to decrease in the coming months due to the onset of the planting season in the country.