Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Central Statistical Office has through the Eswatini Inflation Report for the month of July indicated that transport, food and non-alcoholic beverages contributed significantly to the headline inflation rate of 5.4 per cent.
The report issued by Director of Statistics Amos Zwane yesterday in its key findings indicated that the headline inflation rate (the annual percentage change in the CPI in July compared with that of July 2021) for the country was 5.4 per cent.
This annual rate according to the report was 0.8 percentage points higher than the corresponding annual rate of 4.6 per cent observed in June.
Under noticeable price increases it was reported that the higher inflation was due to increasing annual rates of change reflected in July in price indices for furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance which increased from 1.0 per cent in June to 5.2 per cent in July. “Non-durable household goods, small tools and miscellaneous accessories and household textiles mainly resulted to the higher index in this category,” Zwane stated.
He further pointed out that clothing and footwear, which increased from 3.8 per cent in June to 5.3 in July also contributed. He stated that this was due to notable rates of price increases mainly in garments, resulting to the higher index in this category.
“Transport, which increased from 9.2 per cent in June to 10.5 per cent in July. Fuel and lubricants were the main contributions to the increased index in this category,” Zwane stated.
He went on to explain that also food and non-alcoholic beverages which increased from 6.7 per cent in June to eight per cent in July. According to the report, food mainly bread and cereals; fish and seafood and oils and fats resulted to the higher index in this category.
The increasing rates according to the report were slightly counteracted by decreasing rates of growth in the price indices for recreation and culture which decreased from 2.9 per cent in June to -0.8 per cent in July. It was mentioned that restaurants and hotels which decreased from 0.9 per cent in June to 0.4 per cent in July.
According to the report, catering services (restaurants and cafes) mainly resulted to a lower index in this category.
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