VAT Pushes Inflation Up

No Image

Annual consumer inflation jumped to 7.1 percent in April from 6.0 percent in March largely due to the increase in Value Added Tax rate, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reported on Friday.

In a bid to plug a hole in the budget after revenue dropped sharply during last year's economic downturn, government lifted VAT to 12 percent from 10 percent from April.

 "All the group indices showed increases between March and April mainly due to the revision of the value added tax," the CSO said in a statement.

Editor's Comment
Stakeholders must step up veggie supply

The Ministry of Agriculture, local producers, retailers, and industry associations must work together to overcome the obstacles hindering vegetable production and distribution.This collaborative approach is essential to improve the availability, quality, and affordability of vegetables in the market.Firstly, the Ministry of Agriculture should provide support and guidance to local farmers to enhance their productivity and efficiency. This could...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up