Annual Inflation Rate Up 8.9 Percent

27 May 2011

THE annual rate of inflation has increased to 8.9 per cent this month from 8.8 per cent recorded in April, Central Statistical Office (CSO) acting director John Kalumbi said in Lusaka yesterday.

Mr Kalumbi said the marginal rise in inflation was mainly because of an increase in some food prices.

The national average price of one kilogramme of dried Kapenta (Mpulungu) increased by 6.0 per cent from K51,741 to K54,836 while the price of one kilogramme of dried Kapenta from Siavonga increased by 3.7 per cent from K57,686 to K59,799.

The price of one kilogramme of tomatoes increased by 9.0 per cent from K3, 001 to K3,272.

“The average price of 1kg of cabbage increased by 0.9 per cent from K1, 642 to K1,656.The national average price of one kilogramme of fresh okra increased by 13.2 per cent from K4,422 to K5,004,” Mr Kalumbi said.

However, A comparison of retail prices between April and May 2011, shows that the price of a 25 kilogramme bag of breakfast mealie meal reduced by 3.2 per cent from K51,294 to K49,661.

Mr Kalumbi said the price of a 20 litre tin of the maize grain reduced by 13.6 per cent from K21,374 to 18,464.

The annual food inflation rate was recorded at 4.2 per cent this month while the non-food inflation rate stood at 13.3 per cent.

This is a decrease from 14.0 per cent in April 2011.

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