Zambia’s Inflation Eases to 12.6% in August 2025
Zambia’s annual inflation rate slowed to 12.6 per cent in August 2025, down from 13 per cent recorded in July, according to the Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats).
In its monthly bulletin, ZamStats explained that the moderation was driven by lower price increases in both food and non-food items. Acting Statistician General, Sheila Mudenda, said annual food inflation for August stood at 14.9 per cent, compared to 15.3 per cent the previous month.
“This means that food prices, on average, increased by 14.9 per cent between August 2024 and August 2025,” Mudenda noted. “The main drivers were cereals such as breakfast maize meal, roller-meal, maize grain, and rice, as well as fruits including bananas, lemons, apples and pineapples. Fresh milk and eggs also contributed to the rise.”
On the non-food side, inflation edged down to 9.3 per cent in August from 9.7 per cent in July. The decline was attributed to price adjustments in items such as spare parts and accessories, car tyres (radial), CV joints and shock absorbers, as well as air passenger transport, fuel (petrol and diesel) and paraffin.
The easing of inflation comes as the government continues to balance monetary and fiscal measures aimed at curbing price pressures while sustaining economic growth. Analysts say food inflation remains a key risk due to Zambia’s heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture and the lingering effects of climatic shocks on crop output.
