Consumer inflation unchanged in November

The increase in Uganda consumer prices remained unchanged from the previous month in November amid stabilising food prices, data published by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics show.

The consumer price index, the weighted average of the prices paid by households for consumer goods and services, rose 3.0% in the 12 months ended November, the same rate registered in October. On a month-on-month basis, inflation fell 0.1%, up from the 0.3% decline recorded the previous month.

Annual food crops and related items inflation dropped 3.3% which is slightly higher than the 3.4% decline for the 12 months to October. In November, the food crops and related items inflation rate fell by 1.4% compared to the previous months 1.1% decrease.

Excluding the volatile food and energy components, the annual CPI climbed 3.4%, slightly lower than the 3.5% annual increase recorded the previous month. It’s the second straight decline in the core inflation rate, which is closely watched by the central bank. The bureau attributed its decline to falls in annual services inflation and communication inflation.

In November, core inflation increased 0.0% from a decrease of 0.1% the previous month. Services inflation increased by 0.1%, the same rate recorded in October.

Energy, fuels, and utilities prices however reversed a four-month downward trend, climbing 7.7% in the 12 months through November up from an increase of 6.9% in the previous month. This was due to increases in the inflation rates for solid fuels (charcoal and firewood) and diesel.

The monthly energy, fuels, and utilities inflation rate in November was 0.0%, up from a decline of 1.2% in October.

Related: Inflation slows down for second straight month in October on lower food and energy prices