Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The annual rate of inflation for the month of August increased to 9.3 percent from 8.3 percent in July 2019.
Speaking during a media briefing for the August 2019 release of the monthly bulletin, Central Statistical Office Assistant Director Social Statistics Iven Sikanyiti says this means that on average, prices of goods and services increased by 9.3 percent between August 2018 and August 2019.
Mr Sikanyiti has attributed the increase in the annual inflation rate to price increases in food items such as mealie meal,maize grain and local rice.
He states that the year on year food inflation rate for August 2019 was recorded at 10.3 percent compared to 9.3 percent recorded in July 2019, indicating an increase of 1.0 percentage points.
He says the increase is mainly attributed to price movements of food items such as mealie meal and maize.
Mr Sikanyiti says of the total 9.3 percent annual inflation rate recorded in Agust 2019, food and non alcoholic beverages accounted for 4.8 percentage points.
And Mr Sikanyiti says Zambia recorded an increase in trade deficit by 27.0 percent from K619.0 million in June 2019.
He adds that the country also recorded a decline in exports.