• Inflation for the month of January 2021 increase to 21.5 percent from 19.2 percent recorded in December 2020.
• This means that on average, prices of goods and services increased by 21.5 percent between January 2020 and January 2021.
• Increase in the annual rate of inflation is mainly attributed to price increases in food items.

Zambia Statistics Agency (ZAMSTATS) says the Annual inflation rate for the month of January 2021 has increased to 21.5 percent from 19.2 percent recorded in December 2020.
Agency Interim Statistician General Mulenga Musepa attributed the increase in the annual rate of inflation to price increase in food items.
Mr Musepa said this means that on average, prices of goods and services increased by 21.5 percent between January 2020 and January 2021.
“The Annual inflation rate for January, 2021 increased to 21.5 % from 19.2 %recorded in December 2020, this means that on average, prices of goods and services increased by 21.5 percent between January 2020 and January 2021,” he said.
“The increase in the annual rate of inflation was mainly attributed to price increases in food items.”
He also noted that annual food inflation rate for January, 2021 was recorded at 25.6 percent compared to 20.2 percent recorded in December 2020, indicating an increase of 5.4 percentage points
Mr Musepa explained that this is mainly attributed to increases in prices of food items such as bread, cereals, mealie meal, Maize grain, Meats, Fish Mixed cut, T-bone, Chicken and Vegetables.

He said by the annual non-food inflation rate for January 2021 was recorded at 16.7 percent, down from 18.1 percent in December 2020.
“The slowdown in inflation rate is mainly attributed to the base effect in Household appliances among them Refrigerator, Electric Stove, Electric iron, Electric Fans and Gas.
And Mr Musepa further said a total trade for the period January to December, 2020 was K241.89 Billion while that of 2019 was K183.20 Billion, representing a 32.0 percent increase.
“A total volume of exports for the period from January to December, 2020 was 6.6 million of which Road transport accounted for 4.7 million, representing 71.5 percent of total volume exported.”
Mr Musepa explained that rail transport accounted for 106.2 thousand, representing 1.6 percent while Air transport Air transport accounted for 4.3 thousand 0.1 percent.
He added that total value of exports through all modes of transport for the period January to December, 2020 was K145.0 billion.
“Road transport accounted for K103.8 billion representing 71.6 percent, rail transport was second at K11.1 billion and Air transport was third accounting for K3.1 billion.”
Mr Musepa noted that other modes of transport accounted for K27 billion.