Zimbabwe's ZiG inflation has crept up to 4.3%, and local prices are still putting pressure on household budgets. The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) puts the prior rate at 3.7%, which means prices rose at a faster annual pace by 0.6 percentage points.
Fuel and travel costs are part of the problem. Higher crude oil prices on world markets, along with the expense of moving goods, have added to the cost of living. And when basic trips and supplies cost more, families have less room to spend on other needs.
Still, the monthly figures tell a less harsh story. Across the first ten months of the year, ZiG prices rose by an average of just 0.4% per month. The prior year's mean was 1.2%, which points to a slower pace of monthly price growth despite the latest annual rise.
The US dollar figures went the other way. Annual inflation for goods priced in dollars fell from 3.5% to 3.2%, based on ZIMSTAT's Consumer Price Index data. That's a small dip, but it shows how the two currency measures can move in different ways.
There's also the issue of how much cash a person needs just to get by. ZIMSTAT placed the monthly poverty line at ZWG1,354 per individual. That sum covers a basic basket of food and other daily needs, rather than a high standard of living.
For anyone tracking the cost of living in Zimbabwe, the gap between ZiG and US dollar inflation is worth a look. Local price growth has picked up on an annual basis, even as the dollar measure has eased.
Fuel and travel costs are part of the problem. Higher crude oil prices on world markets, along with the expense of moving goods, have added to the cost of living. And when basic trips and supplies cost more, families have less room to spend on other needs.
Still, the monthly figures tell a less harsh story. Across the first ten months of the year, ZiG prices rose by an average of just 0.4% per month. The prior year's mean was 1.2%, which points to a slower pace of monthly price growth despite the latest annual rise.
The US dollar figures went the other way. Annual inflation for goods priced in dollars fell from 3.5% to 3.2%, based on ZIMSTAT's Consumer Price Index data. That's a small dip, but it shows how the two currency measures can move in different ways.
There's also the issue of how much cash a person needs just to get by. ZIMSTAT placed the monthly poverty line at ZWG1,354 per individual. That sum covers a basic basket of food and other daily needs, rather than a high standard of living.
For anyone tracking the cost of living in Zimbabwe, the gap between ZiG and US dollar inflation is worth a look. Local price growth has picked up on an annual basis, even as the dollar measure has eased.
