• The basket’s upward movement can be attributed to price increases in food items such as beans, cooking oil, bananas and fresh milk.
• Price of Vegetables decreased by K59.73
• The cost of living in Lusaka averaged K9, 126.40, with the national average basket standing at K6, 466.04.

Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has disclosed that the cost of living for a family of five in Lusaka rose by K161.52 to K9, 239.45 in June 2023 from K9, 077.93 recorded in May 2023.
Centre Social and Economic Development (SED) Programme Manager, Muchimba Siamachoka, attributed the rise in the basic needs and nutrition basket in the month under review to price increases in food items such as beans, cooking oil, bananas and fresh milk.
Ms. Siamachoka however noted that the price of Vegetables decreased by K59.73 from K509.08 per 40kg to K449.35 per 40 kg, while other fruits fell from K404.04 to K366.03, representing a reduction of K38.01.
“The basket’s upward movement can be attributed to price increases in food items such as beans which increased by K57.63 from K109.21 or K36.40 per kg to K166.84, cooking oil which increased by K45.28 from K110.48 or K76.72 per 2.5lt to K155.76 or K108.17 per 2.5lt, bananas which increased by K44.28 from K227. 50 or K14.22 per kg to K271.84 or K16.99 per kg, and fresh milk which increased by K37.05, Ms. Siamachoka stated.
She added that from the non-food items section, charcoal saw a reduction in price, with two 90kg bags decreasing by K50 from K750 to K700.
Meanwhile, Ms. Siamachoka observed that during the month under review, the Kwacha continued to lose strength against major convertible currencies such as the United States dollar, but appreciated towards the end of June.
“This sudden appreciation could be attributed to a gain in investor confidence, following the announcement of the country’s debt restructuring agreement. The Centre also notes that the annual inflation for the month of June 2023 dropped slightly to 9.8 percent, compared to 9.9 percent during the month of May 2023, according to the Zambia Statistics Agency.
“In addition, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) pump prices showed that all petroleum products observed a slight reduction, owing to reduced international oil prices. Reviewing the BNNB trends, JCTR observes that the cost of living continues to remain high and unattainable for the vast majority. At the mid-year point, the cost of living in Lusaka averaged at K9, 126.40, with the national average basket standing at K6, 466.04. This is still significantly higher than the national average monthly income of K4, 215,” she observed.