Egypt's monthly inflation rate was once again on the rise in March, increasing by 0.8 percent to 8.2 percent, the statistics agency CAPMAS said on Wednesday.
However, urban consumer inflation eased to 7.6 percent in the 12 months up until March, from 8.2 percent in the 12 months to February.
CAPMAS attributed the March bump to a 3.4 percent increase in vegetable prices compared to February; kidney bean prices increased 23.9 percent, onions 12 percent, eggplant 10.6 percent, tomatoes 10.1 percent, bell peppers 7 percent, potatoes 5.9 percent and dried kidney beans 5.4 percent.
Staple crops also saw a price increase with grains and bread up 2.3 percent due to a 5.5 percent increase in flour and a 4.3 percent increase in rice prices.
Meat, poultry and fish each increased less than 2 percent.
CAPMAS also referred to an increase in the price of baby formula by 8.6 percent.
Electricity, gas and fuel prices increased by 20.2 percent, due to an increase in natural gas prices by 35.7 percent, butane gas by 26.6 percent and electricity by 16.2 percent.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
