The Zonal inflation rates for April revealed that, Zone 2 (Khomas region) recorded the highest annual inflation rate of 5,4%, followed by Zone 1 (Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi regions) which recorded an inflation rate of 4,8% and Zone 3 (//Kharas, Erongo, Hardap, Omaheke regions) annual inflation rate was observed at 3.9%.
Analysis of the average retail prices of selected products for the month of April revealed that consumers in Zone 1 paid the highest price for white bread flour (2,5kg) at N$55,91, followed by Zone 3 at N$52,99, while consumers in Zone 2 paid the least price of N$52,55. Meanwhile, consumers in Zone 3 paid the highest price for maize meal at N$67,97, followed by Zone 2 at N$65,35, while consumers in Zone 1 paid the least price, at N$63,46.
The year-on-year inflation rate stood at 4,8% during the period under review compared to 6,3% registered during April. The slowdown in the annual inflation rate emanated mainly from the slow increases registered in the price levels of ‘food and non-alcoholic beverages’ (from 13,4% to 4,8%); education’ (from 4,5% to 0,6%); ‘miscellaneous goods and services’ (from 5,7% to 2%); and ‘clothing and footwear’ (from 4,7% to 1,1%). On a monthly basis, the inflation rate stood at 0,6% compared to a decline of 0,1% recorded during the preceding month.
In zone 2, year-on-year inflation rate for the period under review stood at 5,4%, a slowdown when compared to 5,9% recorded during the same period of 2023. The slowdown emanates mainly from the price levels of ‘food and non-alcoholic beverages’ (from 14,7% to 5,6%); ‘furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house’ (from 8,7 % to 3,1%); miscellaneous goods and services’ (from 7% to 3,1%) and health (from 6,8% to 4%).
On a monthly basis, the inflation rate increased by 0,9% in April compared to 0.0 percent recorded during the prior month.
In zone 3, the year-on-year inflation rate increased by 3,9% in April compared to 6% recorded during same period of the preceding year. The slowdown in the annual inflation rate resulted mainly from the slow increases witnessed in the price levels of food and non-alcoholic beverages (from 12,1% to 4.4%); miscellaneous goods and services (from 12,8% to 5,8%), furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house (from 8,1% to 4%) and housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels (from 3,2% to 0,7%).
The annual inflation rate stood at 4,8%, the annual inflation rate for goods was estimated at 5,9% and the inflation rate for services stood at 3,1%.
