Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The annual rate of inflation for the month of January 2015 has marginally decreased to 7.7% from 7.9 recorded in December 2014.
Speaking during the Central Statistical Office (CSO) monthly bulletin release this morning, CSO Acting Director Goodson Sinyenga says the annual rate of inflation increased for clothing and footwear, routine house maintenance and miscellaneous goods and services, while it decreased for food and non alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages and tobacco, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, transport, health and communication.
Mr. Sinyenga says of the total 7.7% annual rate of inflation, food and non alcoholic beverage products accounted for 3.8%, while non food products accounted for 3.9%.
He adds that the annual rate of inflation in January 2015 increased for Central, Northern and Muchinga provinces, while it decreased for Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, North Western, Southern and Western provinces.
Mr. Sinyenga says Lusaka and North Western provinces recorded the highest annual rate of inflation at 8.8% each while the Copperbelt province had the lowest annual rate of inflation of 6.1%.
He further stated that the country recorded a trade deficit valued at K81.9 million in December 2014 from a trade surplus of K68.3million recorded in November 2014.