NCPI has been estimated as 113.2 for December 2015. This shows an increase of 1.2 index points and also a percentage of 1.1 compared to the previous month’s (November) index of 112.0. This change is due to the value change increases of food items by 0.9% and non-food items by 0.1% respectively, said the Department of Census and Statistics issuing a communique.

 
The value change increase of food items was mainly due to the price increases in Vegetables, Green chilies, Rice, Fresh fish, Yoghurt, Eggs, Coconuts, Garlic and Red Onions compared to the previous month (November), the communique said. However decrease in value changes were recorded for Big Onions, Limes, Potatoes, Sprats-dry, Chicken, Dhal -Mysoor, Mangoes, Banana and Milk powder due to its price decreases compared to the previous month (November), it added.

 
According to statistics released, the non food commodity groups have increased by 0.1 percent in December 2015 compared to November 2015. This was mainly due to the value change increases in non food commodity groups of 'Alcoholic Beverages Tobacco & Narcotics' and 'Transport'. The value change increase in 'Transport' group has been totally due to the increase of airline fee in December 2015 compared to the previous month (November). A decrease in value change was reported for 'Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels' group and it has mainly been due to the decline of prices of L.P Gas and Kerosene oil in December 2015 compared to the previous month (November).

 
Sri Lanka’s consumer prices nation-wide rose 4.2 percent in December 2015 from a year ago, the Dept. of Census and Statistics said in the communique.