CHAMWE KAIRA
The annual headline inflation rate for October stood at 5.6%, compared to 3.6% recorded in October 2025.
On a monthly basis, inflation was recorded at 0.7%, up from 0.4% in the preceding month. Core inflation stood at 3.7%, remaining below the headline inflation rate.
The transport category, which accounts for 14.3% of the consumer basket, registered an inflation rate of 16.5% during October, compared to 2.1% observed in the same
month of the preceding year.
The increase in the annual inflation rate for this division was reflected in the subcomponents of operation of personal transport equipment (from 1.7% to 22.7%) and public transportation services (from 0.8% to 15.0%).
On a monthly basis, the inflation rate for this category slowed to 1.4% in October, down from 1.9% recorded in September.
The October zonal inflation figures indicated that Zone 2 (Khomas Region) recorded the highest annual inflation rate at 6.2%, followed closely by Zone 3 (/Kharas, Erongo, Hardap, and Omaheke regions) at 6.1%.
Meanwhile, Zone 1 (Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi regions) registered the lowest annual inflation rate at 4.6%.
The analysis of average retail prices for selected products in October revealed that Zone 3 recorded the highest average price for beef stew at N$137.49 per kilogram, followed by Zone 1 at N$127.92 per kilogram while Zone 2 recorded the lowest average price at N$102.96 per kilogram.
Similarly, Zone 3 registered the highest average price for beef mince at N$131.05 per kilogram, followed by Zone 2 at N$122.49 per kilogram and Zone 1 recorded the lowest average price at N$116.80 per kilogram.
Zone 1 covers the expenditure patterns of the regions in the northern part of the country namely Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa and Zambezi.
Prices are collected from the following towns: Katima Mulilo (76 retail outlets covering mainly the Central Business District); Oshakati (107 retail outlets covering mainly Game Shopping Centre, Yetu Shopping Centre, Oshana Mall, Marula Mall and Ongwediva); and Otjiwarongo (114 retail outlets covering mainly the Central Business District, Orwetoveni, and the Industrial Area).
Zone 2 covers the expenditure patterns of Khomas region, and the price collection covers Windhoek (218 retail outlets covering mainly Khomasdal, Katutura, Northern Industrial Area, Southern Industrial Area, Pioneers Park, Hochland Park, Prosperita, Klein Windhoek, Eros, and Kleine Kuppe).
Zone 3 covers the expenditure patterns of //Kharas, Erongo, Hardap, and Omaheke regions with prices being collected from Keetmanshoop (86 retail outlets covering mainly Central Business District, West Dene and Tseiblagte); Swakopmund (108 retail outlets covering Central Business District, Mondesa, Tamariskia, Industrial Area); Mariental (61 retail outlets covering mainly Central Business District and Ombili); as well as Gobabis (59 retail outlets mainly covering the Central Business District), respectively.
