Leading Economic Indicators - January 2008

The Leading Economic Indicators (LEI) for January 2008 is a monthly publication of the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics that highlights trends in consumer price indices and inflation, interest rates, exchange rates, international trade, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, building and construction, tourism and transport. Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 8.8 per cent from 239.81 points in December 2007 to 260.94 points in January 2008. Average annual inflation rate decelerated from 14.5 per cent in 2006 to 9.8 per cent in 2007. The Kenyan Shilling appreciated against the Tanzanian and the Ugandan Shillings during the same period. In general, interest rates rose marginally in January 2008 compared to December 2007.