• Food inflation decreased… in food items such as Cereals, Meat and Vegetables.
• Non-Food inflation decreased due to decreases in prices of Garments, Purchase of vehicles and Charcoal.
• A Trade Surplus of K3.4 billion was recorded in May 2022.

Zambia Statistics Agency (Zamstats) has disclosed that Annual inflation for June, 2022 decreased to 9.7% from 10.2% recorded in May 2022, mainly attributed to price movements in both Food and Non-Food items.

Zamstats Interim Statistician General Mulenga Musepa during a monthly dissemination explained Food inflation decreased to 11.9 % from 12.3% in May 2022 in food items such as Cereals, Meat and Vegetables.

Mr. Musepa indicated that Non-Food inflation decreased to 6.9% from 7.5% in May 2022 due to decreases in prices of Garments, Purchase of vehicles and Charcoal.

“Inflation slowed down in food items such as Cereals (Imported Rice, Local Rice, Bread & Buns), Meat (Brisket, Rump steak, Fillet steak, Mixed Cut, Chicken frozen, Live Chicken, T bone); and Vegetables (Spinach, Cassava leaves, Chinese Cabbage, Okra, Cabbage and Tomatoes),” explained Mr. Musepa.

“Non-Food inflation decreased to 6.9% from 7.5% in May 2022. Due to decreases in prices of Garments (Men’s shirt imported, Men’s trousers imported, ladies skirt imported, Ladies bra), Purchase of vehicles (Toyota Hilux, Nissan Almera, Nissan Hardbody) and Charcoal.”

He added that June 2022 overall monthly inflation was recorded at 0.9% from 0.8% recorded in May 2022.

According to him, “monthly food inflation increased to 1.2% from 0.9% in May 2022 due to movement in prices of food items such as: Fish (Frozen fish, Buka Buka, Fresh Kapenta, Dried Kapenta), Milk, Cheese cabbage and Eggs, and Cooking oil imported.”

Mr. Musepa indicated that “monthly non-food inflation decreased to 0.6% from 0.8% in May, 2022, mainly due to price decreases in Garments (Men’s trousers, Men’s socks, Gents two piece suit, Men sweater local, Ladies dress Imported ladies skirts), Charcoal and Purchase of vehicles (Toyota Hilux, Nissan Almera, Nissan Hard body).”

Meanwhile Mr. Musepa disclosed that A Trade Surplus of K3.4 billion was recorded in May 2022 indicating a 14.1% decrease from a surplus of K3.9 billion in April 2022.

“The reduction in the Trade Surplus was driven by an increase in imports,” he said.

The Interim Statistician General indicated that imports increased by 12.2% to K13.9 billion in May 2022 from K12.4 billion in April 2022 mainly on account of 18.4% and 23.1% increases in import earning from Raw materials and Intermediate goods respectively.

He added that exports increased by 5.9% to K17.3 billion in May 2022 from K16.3 billion in April 2022 mainly on account of 15.9% and 5.8% increases in export earnings from Raw materials and Intermediate goods, respectively.