According to the January 2015 Monthly Bulletin released by the Zambian Central Statistical Office (CSO), the country’s annual inflation rate decreased from 7.9% in December 2014 to 7.7% in January 2015.
The 7.7% 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 January 2014 and January 2015, the annual rate of inflation increased for clothing and footwear; furnishings, household equipment, routine house maintenance; and miscellaneous goods and services.
The annual rate of inflation decreased for food and non-alcoholic beverages; alcoholic beverages and tobacco; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; health; transport; communication; education; and recreation and culture.
The annual food inflation rate for January was recorded at 7.4%, decreasing by 0.1% compared to December 2014, while the annual non-food inflation rate was recorded at 8.0%, a decrease of 0.4% from December 2014.
The total monthly inflation rate increased from 0.8% in December 2014 to 0.7% in January 2015.
The monthly food inflation rate for January 2015 was recorded at 0.7% compared to 1.3% in December 2014; while the monthly non-food inflation rate for January 2015 was 0.7% compared to 0.2% in December 2014.
