/ 23 August 2010

Zim inflation slows to 4,1%

Zimbabwe’s annual inflation rate in July stood at 4,1%, declining from 5,3% the month before, the government statistics agency said on Monday.

The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency said food inflation eased from 7,39% in June to 7,11% last month.

Non-food inflation fell from 4,42% to 2,9%.

A decade of hyperinflation ravaged Zimbabwe’s economy until the formation of a unity government last year and the decision to abandon the local currency in favour of US dollars.

The last official estimate of inflation in Zimbabwe dollars in 2008 was 230-million percent but independent experts said the real figure was in the billions.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti last month said the country’s inflation will continue to slow this year. — Sapa-AFP