Consumer price inflation stands at 1.63 pc in mid-December 2025: NRB data
KATHMANDU: Nepal’s year‑on‑year consumer price inflation stood at 1.63% in mid‑December 2025 compared with 6.05% a year earlier, according to the macroeconomic and financial situation report released by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Friday.
The central bank said food and beverage inflation fell by 2.05% year‑on‑year in the review month, while non‑food and service inflation stood at 3.75%, down from increases of 9.99% and 3.92% respectively in the same period last year. Average inflation for the fifth month of current fiscal year 2025/26 stood at 1.55%, compared with 4.89% a year earlier.
Within the food and beverage group, NRB reported that prices of ghee and oil rose by 5.52% year‑on‑year, non‑alcoholic drinks increased by 3.56%, and milk products and eggs were up by 2.44%. Prices of vegetables fell by 8.54%, spices declined by 8.43%, and pulses and legumes dropped by 5.79%.
Among non‑food and services, the miscellaneous goods and services sub‑category recorded the largest increase, at 18.56% year‑on‑year. Education costs rose by 7.56%, clothes and footwear increased by 5.29%, tobacco products were up by 4.15%, and alcoholic drinks climbed by 3.85%. Insurance and financial services edged down by 0.23%.
Inflation in urban areas rose by 1.83% year‑on‑year, while rural areas saw a 1.09% increase. By province, Koshi recorded the highest inflation at 2.54%, followed by Madhesh at 2.01% and Lumbini at 1.67%; Bagmati stood at 1.48%, Gandaki 1.08%, Karnali 1.09% and Sudurpashchim 0.40%. Regionally, the Kathmandu Valley posted 1.95% inflation, Tarai 1.71%, Hill region 1.36% and Mountain region 1.47%.
On the wholesale front, NRB said year‑on‑year wholesale price inflation eased to 2.78% in mid‑December 2025 from 6.52% a year earlier. Wholesale inflation for consumption goods was 0.41%, while intermediate goods rose by 4.27% and capital goods increased by 2.09%. The wholesale price index for construction materials went up by 4.52% in the review month.
