NAIROBI, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's overall inflation rate increased to 8.04 percent in August from last month's 7.47 percent due to increases in food items, the statistics bureau said on Thursday.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) said that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) computed using the geometric mean approach increased by 0.61 percent from 183.60 percent in July to 184.72 in August.
"Between July and August, Food and Non-Alcoholic drinks index increased by 1.04 percent due to notable rise in the cost of some food items," KNBS Director General Zachary Mwangi said in a statement issued in Nairobi.
It attributed the increase mainly to depressed supply in the second week of the month, noting that the year on year food inflation rose to 13.57 percent in August compared to 12.19 percent in July.
During the same review period, Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels' Index, increased by 0.54 percent. "This was mainly due to marginal increase in the cost of electricity and kerosene," Mwangi said.
He said that the Transport Index rose marginally by 0.03 percent over the same period, mainly due to account of increase in pump prices of diesel despite the decrease recorded in respect of petrol prices.
The prices were obtained from selected retail outlets in 25 data collection zones spread across Nairobi and 13 other urban centers.
