Statistics from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), yesterday, revealed that Consumer Price Indices (CPI) had increased by 0.26 per cent from 133.74 in April 2012 t0 134.09 in May 2012, signifying that May was generally a more expensive month to many as compared to April.

Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels’ index increased by 0.22 per cent between April and May 2012, an increase attributed the price of firewood, charcoal and house rents which slightly went up. Electricity and cooking gas prices declined by 6.0 per cent and 0.4 per cent respectively with the cost of consuming 200 units of electricity, for instance declining from KES 3,494.00 in April to KES 3,286.00 in May 2012.

The transport index also increased by 0.79 per cent between April 2012 and May 2012 due to higher costs of taxi charges, public transport fares and petrol.

To more positive news, food and non-alcoholic drinks’ index fell by 0.18 per cent between April 2012 and May 2012, a decrease mainly attributed to fall in prices of some food products such as sukuma wiki, cabbages, spinach, onions and oranges in May compared to April 2012. It is though important to note that the prices of maize flour, maize grain and wheat flour among other items increased over the same period.

As this month comes to an end, all we can is hope that June will at least be a more financially friendly month.