INFLATION RATE INCREASES TO 9.9 PERCENT

By Seniya Banda
The Annual Inflation rate for the month of September has increased to 9.9 percent from 9.8 percent recorded in the previous month.
Zambia Statistics Agency (Zamstat) Interim Statistician General Mulenga Musepa says this represents an increase of 0.1 percent from the inflation rate recorded in the previous month
Mr. Musepa has attributed the increase to the upward adjustment of food items such cereals and fish products among others
Mr. Musepa says the annual food inflation rate stood at 12.0 percent compared to 11.3 percent recorded in the previous month.
Meanwhile he says the country also recorded a Trade Surplus of K3.2 billion with exports declining by 4.2 percent whilst imports decreased by 1.5 percent.
Mr Musepa has further disclosed that the country’s copper earning declined by 4.8 percent.