Kathmandu: Remittance inflows have increased by 31.4 percent to Rs.687.13 billion in the first four months of the fiscal year 2025/26, compared to a 9.4 percent increase in the same period of the previous year. During the month of Kartik, which spans mid-October to mid-November, remittance inflows reached Rs. 133.82 billion, up from Rs. 114.31 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year.
According to National News Agency Nepal, in US Dollar terms, remittance inflows rose by 25.3 percent to 4.88 billion in the review period, compared to an 8.2 percent increase in the same period of the previous year. This data comes from the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation report released by the Nepal Rastra Bank, which is based on data from the past four months.
During this period, 145,973 Nepali workers received first-time approvals for foreign employment, and 127,837 received approval for renewals. In the same period last year, these numbers were 147,478 and 94,105, respectively. Additionally, the Nepal Rastra Bank reports that the current account registered a surplus of Rs. 279.65 billion during the review period, up from Rs.147.78 billion in the same period last year. In US Dollar terms, the current account surplus was 1.99 billion, compared to 1.10 billion in the previous year.
Net capital transfer amounted to Rs.6.21 billion in the review period, compared to Rs.2.47 billion last year. Foreign direct investment, in equity only, totaled Rs.2.49 billion. The Balance of Payments (BOP) showed a surplus of Rs.318.40 billion, compared to Rs.205.83 billion in the previous year. Gross foreign exchange reserves increased by 14.1 percent to Rs.3055.52 billion in mid-November 2025, up from Rs.2677.68 billion in mid-July 2025. In US Dollar terms, reserves increased by 10.3 percent to 21.52 billion from 19.50 billion during the same period.
Meanwhile, consumer price inflation stood at 1.11 percent in mid-November 2025, a decrease from 5.60 percent a year ago. Food and beverage inflation fell by 3.32 percent, while non-food and service inflation was 3.69 percent in the review month. The average inflation rate for the first four months of the current fiscal year was 1.53 percent, compared to 4.59 percent a year ago.
On a provincial basis, year-on-year consumer price inflation in the review month was 1.80 percent in Koshi Province, 1.73 percent in Madhesh Province, 0.81 percent in Bagmati Province, 0.37 percent in Gandaki Province, 1.27 percent in Lumbini Province, 1.08 percent in Karnali Province, and 0.26 percent in Sudurpashchim Province. In the Kathmandu Valley, Tarai, Hill, and Mountain regions, year-on-year consumer price inflation stood at 1.16 percent, 1.24 percent, 0.88 percent, and 1.06 percent, respectively, according to the Bank.