ZAMBIA’S INFLATION RATE DROPS TO 6.2% IN AUGUST

ZAMBIA’S INFLATION RATE DROPS TO 6.2% IN AUGUST

Zambia’s annual inflation rate has dropped to 6.2 percent in August 2026 from 6.5 percent recorded in July, with the Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats) attributing the decline to slower increases in food and non-food prices.

ZamStats Acting Statistician General Chola Daka said food inflation declined to 6.0 percent from 6.4 percent, mainly due to price movements in selected cereals, sugar, cooking oil and dried beans.

“Zambia’s annual inflation rate declined to 6.2 percent in August 2026, from 6.5 percent in July 2026,” said Daka.

She said non-food inflation also declined marginally to 6.6 percent from 6.7 percent, mainly due to price movements in selected fuels and lubricants and vehicle purchases.

“The overall monthly inflation rate remained unchanged at 0.2 percent in August 2026,” she said.

Daka said annual inflation declined in seven provinces, namely Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Lusaka, North-Western, Southern and Western, while it increased in Luapula and Northern provinces.

Meanwhile, Zambia recorded a K4.1 billion trade surplus in July, slightly lower than the K4.2 billion recorded in June.

“Total trade increased by 0.2 percent, from K55.1 billion in June to K55.2 billion in July 2026,” said Daka.

She said refined copper export earnings fell by 4.5 percent, while export volumes declined by 7.9 percent during the month. However, cumulative copper export volumes increased by 8.8 percent between January and July 2026.

“Canada remained Zambia’s leading export destination, accounting for 34.8 percent of total export earnings,” said Daka.