• The slowdown in the rate of inflation is mainly attributed to the fall in prices of some food items.
• Lusaka province has contributed the highest at 6.7 percentage points.
• Zambia has recorded a trade surplus of K7.3 billion in March 2021.

Zambia Statistics Agency (ZAMSTATS) says annual inflation for April, 2021 has decreased to 22.7 percent from 22.8 percent in March 2021.
Speaking during a Monthly dissemination meeting in Lusaka, ZAMSTATS interim Statistician General Mulenga Musepa said the slowdown in the rate of inflation is mainly attributed to the fall in prices of some food items.
“On average, prices of goods and services increased by 22.7 percent between April 2020 and April 2021,” he explained.
Mr. Musepa noted Lusaka province has contributed the highest at 6.7 percentage points to the overall annual inflation rate of 22.7 percent in April, 2021.
He said Copperbelt province is second highest, contributing 4.2 percentage points while North-Western province has the lowest contribution of 0.7 percentage point.
Meanwhile, an Economist poll gathered by Money FM News had projected an increase in Zambia’s April annual inflation rate, however, at a lower rate around 23.1 percent.
And Mr. Musepa revealed that Zambia has recorded a trade surplus of K7.3 billion in March 2021 compared to a surplus of K8.1 billion in February 2021.
He said Exports mainly comprising domestically produced goods, increased by 10.7 percent to K18.4 billion in March 2021 from K16.6 billion in February 2021.
Mr. Musepa explained this was mainly on account of a 6.9 and 47.3 percent increase in export earnings from Intermediate goods and Consumer goods.
“Imports increased by 30.7 percent to K11.2 billion in March 2021 from K8.5 billion in February 2021 mainly as a result of a 33.7, 28.9 and 37.6 percent increase in import bills of capital goods, consumer goods and Intermediate goods respectively,” he said.