CHAMWE KAIRA
The year-on-year inflation rate stood at 2.8% in Zone 1 (Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi) during September, compared to 6.1% registered during September 2023.
The Namibia Statistics Agency said the slowdown in the annual inflation rate emanated mainly from the slow increases observed in the price levels of ‘alcoholic beverages’ (from 10.9% to 4.6%); ‘food and nonalcoholic beverages’ (from 9.6% to 4.5%); and ‘education’ (from 4.5% to 0.6%). On a monthly basis, the inflation rate declined by 0.2% compared to a 0.3% increase recorded during the preceding month.
In Zone 2 (Khomas), the year-on-year inflation rate for September increased by 4.3%, a slowdown when compared to 5.2% recorded during the same period of 2023. The slowdown in the inflation rate emanated from the price levels of ‘recreation and culture’ (from 14.3% to 5.2%); ‘food and non-alcoholic beverages’ (from 11.9% to 5.0%); and ‘communications’ (from 0.3% to -3.4%).
On a monthly basis, the inflation rate decreased to 0.3% compared to an increase of 0.4% recorded during the prior month.
In Zone 3 (||Kharas, Erongo, Hardap and Omaheke), the year-on-year inflation rate stood at 3.1% in September compared to 4.6% recorded during the same period of the preceding year.
“The slow increase in the annual inflation was mainly observed in the price levels of ‘alcoholic beverages and tobacco’ (from 7.9% to 4.7%); and ‘miscellaneous goods and services’ (from 7.9% to 4.8%); followed by ‘housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels’ (from 2.7% to -0.1%); and ‘communications’ (from 1.3% to -0.5%). On a monthly basis, the inflation rate observed a decline of 0.1 percent compared to an increase of 0.3% recorded a month earlier,” the agency said.
For the compilation of the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), all administrative regions of the country were grouped into three zones, with each zone considered as one geographic area as follows: Zone 1 (Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi); Zone 2 (Khomas) and Zone 3 (||Kharas, Erongo, Hardap and Omaheke).
The overall national annual inflation rate for September stood at 3.4%, compared to 5.4% registered in September 2023.
The Namibia Household Income and Expenditure Survey (NHIES) provides the data for the NCPI, which covers the entire economic territory of the nation and includes national, urban, and rural households of all income groups.
White bread flour 2.5 kg costs N$55.99 in Zone 1, N$54.05 in Zone 2 and N$55.83 in Zone 3.
White cake flour 2.5 kg cost N$57.31 in Zone 1, N$53.44 in Zone 2 and N$60.32 in Zone 3.
In terms of maize meals, 5 kg cost N$64.12 in Zone 1, N$70.49 in Zone 2 and N$71.59 in Zone 3.
Beef stew per kg cost N$90.99 in Zone 1, N$94.99 in Zone 2 and N$96.71 in Zone 3.
Petrol per litre cost N$21.33 in Zone 1, N$21.43 in Zone 2 and N$21.43 in Zone 3.
Diesel per litre cost N$21.15 in Zone 1, N$20.90 in Zone 2 and N$20.90 in Zone 3.
