Price monster less greedy in Jan

Food inflation in Namibia dropped for the tenth consecutive month in January, settling at 6.4%.

In January 2023, food inflation in the country was 14.3%.

Data released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) yesterday shows overall inflation last month came in at 5.4% - up slightly from 5.3% in December, but significantly lower than the 7.0% in January 2023.

At 0.2%, bread and cereals had the lowest inflation rate in the food basket last month. A year ago, the rate was 22.3%.

Zonal prices

Last month, a loaf of brown bread on average cost N$13.98 in Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa and Zambezi, or Zone 1, according to NSA classification.

In Khomas (Zone 2), the same loaf sold for N$14.18 on average.

In Zone 3 - //Kharas, Hardap, Erongo and Omaheke – the average price was N$13.91.

At 17.4%, fruit had the highest inflation rate in the food basket last month, albeit lower than the 22.3% of January 2023.

In Khomas, a kilogramme of oranges on average cost N$35.93. In Zone 1 and Zone 3, the average price was N$33.20 and N$35.33, respectively.

January’s inflation rates in the rest of the food basket were: meat 5.2% (8.7% in January 2023); fish 14.5% (11.3%); milk, cheese and eggs 13.1% (5.7%); oils and fats 3% (16.8%); vegetables 13.5% (14.2%); as well as sugar and jam 9.2% (12.3%).