November 02, 2001

KATHMANDU: The overall price index of food and beverages jumped by 4.3 percent during the first two months of the current fiscal year 2001/2 compared to a 4.3 percent fall in the same period the previous year, the Nepal Rashtra Bank said.

The price of non-food items and services went up by 4.7 percent. Exports fell by 5.1 percent to Rs.8558 million compared to an increase of 38 percent during the same period the previous year.

Imports dipped by 5 percent to Rs.16690.7 million. But trade deficit narrowed by 4.8 percent to Rs.8132.7 million. The balance of payments was favourable at Rs.5762.8 million

Foreign exchange holdings of the banking system increased  8.4 percent to Rs.105185.6 million until mid September 2001; 76.1 percent was in convertible currency and the rest  in non convertible currency.