Surface inflation, as measured by the annual point change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CPR, 2013 = 100), rose slightly to 4.1 percent in November 2020 from 4.0 percent in October 2020.

This was due to the increase in the prices of items in both the food and non-food categories. Meanwhile, annual point inflation in the food category rose marginally to 10.3 percent in November 2020 from 10.0 percent in October 2020. Annual point inflation in the non-food category also rose marginally to 1.6 per cent in November 2020 from 1.3 per cent in October 2020.

The change in the COPE index, measured on an annual average basis, remained unchanged at 4.6 percent in November 2020.

In the month of November 2020 The monthly change in the index was 0.4 percent. This was due to the increase in the prices of items in both the food and non-food categories. Accordingly, in November 2020, the prices of big onions, red onions and potatoes in the food category increased. However, prices of fruits and fresh fish declined during the month. Meanwhile, prices of non-food items increased in November 2020, mainly due to higher prices in the transport (bus fare) sub-segment.

Annual headline inflation, which represents the underlying inflation of the economy, remained unchanged at 3.0 percent in November 2020. However, annual average core inflation fell to 3.2 percent in November 2020 from 3.4 percent in October 2020.