Annual point surface inflation, based on the National Consumer Price Index, rose to 66.7% in July. In June, the figure was 58.9%.

 The Central Bank points out that the monthly increases in the prices of items in both the food and non-food categories have led to an increase in inflation.

The annual point inflation in the food category was recorded at 75.8% in June.

In July, the figure increased to 82.5%. Annual point inflation in the non-food category rose to 52.4% in July from 43.6% in June, the central bank said.

Meanwhile, the monthly change in the National Consumer Price Index in July was 5.57%. This is due to the increase in the price of items in the food category by 2.42% and the price of items in the non-food category by 3.15%.

The central bank announced that prices of milk powder, rice, fresh fish, biscuits and poultry have increased in the food category. However, the prices of vegetables, coconut oil and coconut showed a decline during the same period.

In the non-food category, the prices of bus fares, petrol and diesel, furniture, home appliances and household unit maintenance, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels have increased in July, the report released by the Central Bank further states.