By Jane Chanda
Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats) chief statistician Nakazwe Daka has announced that the country’s annual inflation rate eased to 15.3 percent in May 2025, down from 16.5 percent in April, mainly attributed to price movements in both food and non-food items.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, on behalf of acting Statistician General Sheila Mudenda, Daka attributed the development mainly to price movements in both food and non-food items, with food inflation declining to 17.9 percent in May 2025 from 18.7 percent in April.
“The slowdown was largely influenced by price reductions or stabilisations in key food items such as cereals, various types of milk, vegetables, fruits, and sweet potatoes. Non-food inflation also posted a notable drop, falling to 11.6 percent in May 2025 from 13.4 percent the previous month,” she said.
Daka reported that the decline in non-food inflation was attributed to changes in the cost of motor vehicles, passenger air transport, fuel, and hammer milling charges and that provincial contributions to the national inflation rate showed Lusaka leading with 4.5 percentage points, followed by Copperbelt with 3.4 percentage points.
She said Zambia recorded a total trade value of K214.7 billion for the period January to April 2025, reflecting a 31.4 percent increase compared to K163.4 billion during the same period in 2024. Daka added that exports accounted for K106.9 billion, with road transport dominating the sector.
She said Zambia recorded a trade surplus of K0.49 billion in April 2025, slightly up from K0.47 billion in March. However, export earnings fell by 6.4 percent, while imports declined by 6.6 percent.
“The slowdown in inflation, coupled with a moderate trade surplus offers some room for cautious optimism in Zambia’s economic outlook,” said Daka. “However, the persistence of double-digit inflation highlights the need for continued policy attention, especially in stabilising food and transport costs.”
