• Annual food inflation for June, 2021 was recorded at 31.2 percent compared to 28.5 percent in May 2021.
• Non-food inflation rate for June 2021 was recorded at 17.1 percent same as that recorded in May 2021.
• Zambia recorded a trade surplus of K6.9 billion in May 2021.

Zambia Statistics Agency (ZAMSTATS) says Annual Inflation for June, 2021 has increased to 24.6 percent from 23.2 percent in May, 2021

ZAMSTATS Interim statistician General Mulenga Musepa said the increase in the annual rate of inflation is mainly attributed to price increases in some food items.
“On average, prices of goods and services increased by 24.6 percent between June 2020 and June 2021,” he explained.
Mr. Musepa noted Annual food inflation for June, 2021 was recorded at 31.2 percent compared to 28.5 percent in May 2021.
According to Mr. Musepa “this was mainly attributed to increase in prices of food items such as Meats (Fillet steak, Rump steak, Brisket, Ox-liver, Offal’s, Goat meat, Chicken Frozen, Chicken Live); Fish (Fresh Kapenta, Dried Kapenta Mpulungu); and Coffee, Tea and Cocoa (Instant Coffee Prima, Instant Coffee, Tea bags, Cocoa”
He added that annual non-food inflation rate for June 2021 was recorded at 17.1 percent same as that recorded in May 2021.
The Interim Statistician General further revealed that Zambia recorded a trade surplus of K6.9 billion in May 2021 compared to a surplus of K10.2 billion in April 2021 indicating a 31.9 percent decrease.
“This was mainly on account of a 13.2, 10.6 and 32.7 percent decrease in export earnings from Raw materials, Intermediate goods and Capital goods, respectively,” said Mr. Musepa
He pointed out that Exports mainly comprising domestically produced goods, fell by 8.0 percent to K20.0 billion in May 2021 from K21.7 billion in April 2021.
Mr. Musepa added that Imports increased by 13.0 percent to K13.1 billion in May 2021 from K11.6 billion in April 2021.
He explained that “this was mainly as a result of a 9.7, 122.6 and 11.3 percent increase in import bills of Consumer goods, Raw materials goods and Capital goods, respectively.”