Consumer price inflation rises to 6.34 pc in mid-September: NRB
KATHMANDU: Consumer price inflation rose to 6.34% in mid-September 2026 from 1.87% a year earlier, according to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). The increase reflected growing price pressures across essential food items and key service sectors in the first two months of the fiscal year 2026/27.
According to the latest macroeconomic report released by the central bank on Thursday, food and beverage inflation stood at 7.54% in the review month, reversing a price decline of 1.34% recorded a year earlier. Inflation in the non-food and services category also increased to 5.69% from 3.70% in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Within the food category, prices of ghee and oil recorded the steepest increase of 16.68%, followed by fruit at 15.99%, sugar and sugar products at 12.14%, meat and fish at 7.34%, vegetables at 7.07%, and spices at 6.71%.
Among non-food items, transport costs increased by 12.77%, while prices of alcoholic drinks rose by 8.83%, clothing and footwear by 7.06%, furnishing and household equipment by 6.01%, and tobacco products by 5.45%.
Inflation was higher in rural areas at 6.78%, compared with 6.19% in urban areas. Provincial data showed that Madhesh Province recorded the highest inflation rate at 7.48%, while Sudurpashchim Province recorded the lowest at 5.16%.
By geographical region, consumer price inflation in the Tarai stood at 6.89%, followed by the Hill region at 6.41%, the Mountain region at 5.69%, and the Kathmandu Valley at 5.28%.
At the wholesale level, overall inflation accelerated to 8.08% in mid-September 2026 from 2.10% a year earlier. Wholesale price inflation for consumption goods grew by 0.55%, while intermediate goods and capital goods rose by 12.87% and 6.39%, respectively. Construction materials recorded a wholesale price increase of 5.08%.
Nepal’s consumer price inflation in mid-September was also higher than that of neighbouring India, where consumer price inflation stood at 4.82% in August 2026.
