Price monster relatively high in Windhoek

Since January 2022, the prices of goods and services in Windhoek (Zone 2) have been increasing at a fast pace compared to other zones, the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) inflation figures revealed.

Zone 2 recorded an annual inflation rate of 7.8% in September 2022 and averaged 6.5% year to date.

Secondly, Zone 3 ((//Kharas, Erongo, Hardap and Omaheke) recorded an inflation rate of 6.9% during the review period and averaged 5.5% year to date.

In addition, the prices of goods and services in Zone 1((Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi) increased by 6.6% in September 2022.

Overall annual inflation in Namibia stood at 7.1% in September 2022, compared to 3.5% recorded in September 2021. In August 2022, annual inflation stood at 7.3%.

Inflation during the review period was mainly driven the transport, and food and non-alcoholic beverages categories.

The transport category recorded an annual inflation rate of 19.5% in September 2022, compared to 7.5% in September 2021.

The operation of personal transport equipment sub category increased by 30.0% in September 2022, compared to 11.6% recorded in September 2021. The increase resulted mainly from increases witnessed in the price levels of petrol and diesel, which recorded a hyperinflation rate of 52.4% in September 2022 compared to 18.0% registered during the same period last year, NSA said.

Moreover, prices for public transportation services recorded an increase of 6.4% compared to a deflation of 8.3% registered during the same period of 2021. The increase emanated from increases registered in the price levels of bus transportation which increased (from -12.2% to 8.8%) and Taxi transportation (from -8.7% to 6.3%), NSA added.

Food

The food and non-alcoholic beverages category recorded and inflation rate of 9.3% in September 2022, compared to 5% in September 2021.

The inflation rate for the food sub-category increased by 9.5% during the period under review compared to 5.1% registered during the same period of the preceding year. The increase was mainly reflected in the prices of oils and fats (25.5%), fruits (20.4%), bread and cereals (10.7%) and sugar, jam, honey, syrups, chocolate, and confectionery (10.1%).

Furthermore, oils and fats prices augmented by 25.5% in September 2022 compared to 17.7% registered during the same period a year earlier. The increase was reflected mainly in the price levels of cooking oil that escalated (from 26.7% to 36.1%), margarine and margarine spreads (from 9.5% to 18.2%) and butter (from 1.3% to 1.5%).

The price levels of fruits increased by 20.4% in September 2022 compared to 10.2 percent recorded in September 2021. The increase in the annual inflation rate for this subcategory was mainly observed in the price levels of avocados (from 32.8% to 77.7%), citrus fruits (from -7.8% to 22.7%), dried fruits (from -4.1% to 11.9%) and peanuts and mixed nuts (from -1.6% to 6.3%), NSA [email protected]