Potato prices rise, unga prices drop as Kenya records 6.8% inflation rate in September

Dubbed the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Inflation rates for September 2023, KNBS reports that there has been a significant change in the national average retail prices of certain basic commodities as most items have experienced a rise.

KNBS says that the overall annual inflation rate, as measured by the CPI, was 6.8 per cent in September 2023. 

Prices of commodities under the transport, food and non-alcoholic beverages, Housing together with Water, Electricity, Gas and other fuels categories, increased by 13.0, 7.9 and 6.3 per cent respectively between September 2022 and September 2023. 

"This food inflation was mainly attributed to an increase in prices of sonic food items, which outweighed the decrease in prices of other foodstuffs," read part of the statement.

However, even as the prices of unga decreased, the prices of other commodities like potatoes, cabbages and kales (sukuma-wiki) increased by 18.4, 7.4 and 4.2 per cent respectively.

This means that 1Kg packet of Loose maize flour decreased from Ksh.84 in September 2022 to Ksh.80 in September 2023 and a 2kg packet of sifted maize flour shot down from Ksh.180 in September 2022 to Ksh.179 in September 2023.

However, the price of Irish potatoes rose from Ksh.80 (1kg) to Ksh.101 within the same period.

The same pattern was seen in the price of Tomatoes as 1Kg rose from Ksh.71 to Ksh.75, the same amount of Cabbages rose from Ksh.50 to Ksh.56 and Sukuma Wiki rose from Ksh.57 to Ksh.60.

The CPI and inflation rate is generated from data collected through monthly surveys of retail prices that target a representative basket of household consumption goods and services. 

The data collection is conducted in the second and third weeks of the month from a sample of outlets located in 50 data collection zones across the country.