ZAMBIA END YEAR INFLATION SLOWS DOWN

The consumer inflation rate in Zambia has slowed down to 7.2 per cent as recorded for the end of this year.

This is in a reduced monthly inflationary rate from 8.1 per cent recorded for November 2011.

The Central Statistical Office has attributed the inflationary rate reduction to decreases in some food prices.

Meanwhile, the CSO has further stated that the targeted 2011 Gross Domestic product GDP growth has eased to 6.5 percent from 7.6 percent set last year.

The national statistical data processing agency has cited slowed growth in the primary sector, coupled with the expected smaller increase in the mines output, as factors surrounding the reduced projected GDP growth.

And on the international trade side, the CSO has recorded 315.9 billion kwacha as the earnings surplus in November 2011, up from 187.5 billion kwacha for October.