NCPI has been compiled as 111.6 for April and it was 110.0 in March 2016.

According to the Department of Census and Statistics, this monthly change is due to the expenditure value of food items increased by 0.97percent and expenditure value of non-food items increased by 0.45percent.

The expenditure value of food commodity group has increased mainly due to the price increases in Fresh fish, Limes, Salt, Rice, Banana, Potatoes, Sugar, and Chicken, Eggs, Bread, Wheat flour, Vegetables, Big Onions Coconut oil and Garlic. However, decreases in prices were recorded for Papaw, Green chilies, Coconut, Mangoes, Tamarind and Sprats-dry.

The increase of the expenditure value of non-food commodity was mainly due to the expenditure value increases in non-food commodity groups of 'Alcoholic Beverages Tobacco & Narcotics’, ‘Transport’, ‘Clothing and Footwear’ and 'Furnishing, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance' compared to March.

Further, very slight increases in expenditure values were also reported for groups of 'Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’, ‘Restaurant and Hotels', and 'Miscellaneous Goods and Services'. The expenditure values of 'Health', 'Communication', ‘Recreation and Culture' and ‘Education’ groups remained unchanged during the month.

In a communique issued on NCPI, Dr. Amara Satharasinghe, Director General of Census and Statistics said that Year on Year inflation based on NCPI for the month of April 2016 was calculated as 4.3 percent.