The inflation rate for the food sub-category increased by 6.5 per cent during July 2021 compared to 6.2 per cent recorded during July 2020, the Namibia Consumer Price Index report for July 2021 indicates.

The report by the Namibia Statistics Agency outlines that within this category, rice recorded inflation of 11.6 per cent followed by bread at 8.0 per cent and baby cereals at 7.7 per cent.

“Prices for meat were 14.9 per cent more expensive than a year ago. The highest inflation within this category were observed in chicken at 20.5 per cent followed by offal with 19.0 per cent; minced meat with 18.9 per cent and lamb with 15.4 per cent,” the report reads.

Prices for sugar, jam, honey, syrups, chocolate and confectionery registered a decline of 0.4 per cent in July 2021 compared to 3.9 per cent recorded during the same period last year. The fall in the inflation rate for this category was a result of decreases observed in the price levels of ice cream with -4.0 per cent followed by chocolate with -3.7 per cent and sweets with -3.5 per cent.

Prices for vegetables including potatoes and other tubers rose by 3.9 per cent in July 2021, a slowdown when compared to an increase of 14.0 per cent recorded in July 2020. The slowdown was caused mainly by large declines observed in the price levels of carrots by -14.4 per cent, onions by -13.8 per cent and green pepper by -13.5 per cent, NSA adds.

“Meanwhile, prices for milk, cheese and eggs were 1.0 per cent more expensive than a year ago but lower when compared to a rise of 4.1 per cent recorded in July 2020. The slow growth in inflation is reflected in the price decreases registered in cream at -11.4 per cent and long life milk at 2.4 per cent. The price levels of fruits increased by 9.0 per cent in July 2021 compared to 14.7 per cent recorded in July 2020,” the report showed.

Source: Namibia Press Agency