Headline inflation as measured by the year-on-year change in the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) increased to 5% in September 2019 from 3.4%in August 2019, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka said.

The monthly increases of prices of items in both Food and Non-food categories contributed to this increase as reflected in year-on-year Food and Non-food inflation recording 4.9% and 5.1% respectively in September 2019.

In addition, the low base that prevailed in the corresponding month of the previous year also contributed for this increase.

The change in the NCPI measured on an annual average basis increased to 2.35 in September 2019 from 2.0% in August 2019. Monthly change of NCPI recorded 0.7% in September 2019 and it was due to the price increases observed in the items of both Food and Non-food categories.

Meanwhile, the core inflation, which reflects the underlying inflation in the economy, declined to 5.6% in September 2019 from 5.9% in August 2019 on year-on-year basis. However, annual average core inflation increased to 5.2% in September 2019 from 5% in August 2019.