What’s the Continent’s Inflation Rate doing: Falling or Rising?

Angola inflation rises to 38 percent year-on-year in August
Angola’s inflation quickened to 38.18 percent year-on-year in August from 35.3 percent in July, data from the national statistics agency. Prices increased at a slower pace in August, to 3.3 percent month-on-month from 4.04 percent in July. Rwandan inflation fell to 6.4 percent year-on-year in August from 6.9 percent in July, the state-run statistics office said on Saturday.

 Botswana inflation slows to 2.6 percent in August
Botswana’s consumer inflation slowed to 2.6 percent year-on-year in August from 2.7 percent in July, data from the statistics office showed. On a month-on-month basis, prices rose 0.2 percent in August after a 0.1 percent increase the previous month, Statistics Botswana stated.

 Egypt’s inflation jumps to 15.5 percent in August
Egypt’s annual urban consumer price inflation jumped to 15.5 percent in August from 14 percent in July, the official statistics agency CAPMAS said. Egypt’s urban consumer price inflation figure had been rising since April but the figure was unchanged in July, raising hopes among some economists that the impact of currency devaluation earlier this year had begun to fade.

Ethiopia’s inflation slows to 5.9 percent in August
Ethiopia’s inflation slowed to 5.9 percent in August from 6.0 percent the previous month, thanks to a slower rise in non-food prices, official data released. The Central Statistics Agency said non-food inflation was 7.6 percent in August from 8.3 percent the previous month. Food inflation rose to 4.4 percent from 4.1 percent in July.

Ghana consumer inflation rises to 16.9 pct in August
Ghana’s annual consumer price inflation rose to 16.9 percent in August from 16.7 percent in July, the statistics office said. The West African country is implementing a three-year aid programme with the International Monetary Fund to remedy fiscal problems that include inflation that for years has exceeded government targets.

Kenya’s inflation falls to 6.26 percent in August
Kenya’s inflation fell slightly to 6.26 percent year-on-year in August from 6.39 percent the previous month, the statistics office said. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement that on a month-on-month basis, inflation was at 0.08 percent.

Nigerian inflation rises to 17.6 percent in August
Annual inflation in Nigeria accelerated to 17.6 percent in August from 17.1 percent in July, the statistics office said on Friday. The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) also said food inflation rose to 16.4 percent in August, from 15.8 percent in July

Rwanda’s inflation at 6.4 percent yr/yr in August
In August 2016, Rwanda’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 6.4 percent year on year, thereby easing from 6.9 percent year on year recorded in July 2016. For the last three months, “Food prices” have been the main driver of the recent increase in CPI. The year on year inflation for “Food and non– alcoholic beverages” reached 12 percent in August 2016. Other main drivers were as usual “Transport” and “Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels” with a year on year inflation of 8.6 and 3 percent respectively.

Seychelles inflation at -1.6 percent yr/yr in August
Seychelles inflation was -1.6 percent year-on-year in August from -0.7 percent a month earlier, the statistics office said. Inflation was -0.6 percent month-on-month from 0.8 percent in July, the National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement.

South African annual inflation eases further in August
South African inflation inched down from 6.0% in July to 5.9% in August, thus hitting the lowest reading in eight months. This brings inflation just below the upper threshold of the Central Bank’s target range of 3.0%–6.0%. Annual average inflation inched up from 5.7% in July to 5.8% in August. 

 Tanzania annual inflation slows to 4.9 percent in August
Tanzanian inflation edged down in August after food and fuel prices rose more slowly, the statistics office said. The state-run National Bureau of Statistics said inflation fell to 4.9 percent year-on-year last month from 5.1 percent in July. Month on month, the headline inflation rate was 0.2 percent in August.

Uganda annual inflation falls to 4.8 percent in August
Uganda’s inflation fell to 4.8 percent year-on-year in August from 5.1 percent a month earlier, the statistics office said. Core inflation – which the central bank monitors for monetary policy purposes – also dropped to 4.9 percent from 5.6 percent in July.

Zambia’s inflation slows to 19.6 percent in August
Zambia’s inflation slowed to 19.6 percent year-on-year in August from 20.2 percent in July, due to a decrease in food prices, the central statistical office (CSO) stated. The monthly inflation rate inched up to 0.4 percent from 0.1 percent in July, the statistics agency said

Zimbabwe annual consumer prices fall 1.43 percent in August
Zimbabwe’s consumer prices declined 1.43 percent year-on-year in August, after contracting 1.60 percent in July, data from the national statistics agency. On a month-on-month basis, prices declined 0.13 percent after a 0.19 percent fall previously, Zimstats said.