According to the December 2014 Monthly Bulletin released by the Zambian Central Statistical Office (CSO), the country’s annual inflation rate decreased from 8.1% in November to 7.9% in December.
The 7.9% refers to the Zambia Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures changes over time in the general level of prices of goods and services that households acquire for the purpose of consumption, with reference to the price level in 2009 (base year 2009 =100).
Between December 2013 and December 2014, the annual rate of inflation increased for food and non-alcoholic beverages; health; recreation and culture; and restaurant and hotel.
The annual rate of inflation decreased for alcoholic beverages and tobacco; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; furnishing household equipment, routine house maintenance; transport; communication; education; and miscellaneous goods and services.
The annual Food inflation rate for December was recorded at 7.5%, increasing by 0.2% compared to November 2014, while the annual non-food inflation rate was recorded at 8.4%, a decrease of 0.5% from November 2014.
The total monthly inflation rate increased from 0.4% in November 2014 to 0.7% in December 2014.
The monthly food inflation rate for December 2014 was recorded at 1.3% compared to 0.5% in November 2014; while the monthly non-food inflation rate for December 2014 was 0.2% compared to 0.3% in November 2014.
