ZAMBIA'S INFLATION RISES TO 6.3% IN OCTOBER AMID EASING FOOD PRICES AND RISING NON-FOOD PRESSURES

By Pauline Ngozoh

Zambia's annual inflation rate rose to 6.3% in October 2026, up from 6.1% in September 2026, representing a modest reversal in the easing trend observed in recent months.

The figures were released by Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats) Statistician-General, Ms Sheila Mudenda.

While the month-on-month increase of 0.2 percentage points signals renewed price pressures, annual inflation remains significantly below the 11.9% recorded in October 2025, representing a decline of 5.6 percentage points over the 12-month period.

A disaggregation of the data shows divergent trends. Food inflation eased to 5.7% in October from 5.8% in September. ZamStats attributed the easing to price movements in cereals, including breakfast and roller mealie meal, maize grain and wheat flour, as well as vegetables and groundnuts.

Non-food inflation, however, rose to 7.4% from 6.6% over the same period. The increase was mainly attributed to price movements in fuels, accommodation services and passenger transport by road.

Monthly inflation also increased to 0.7% in October from 0.4% in September. Food inflation rose marginally to 0.3% from 0.2%, while non-food inflation accelerated sharply to 1.2% from 0.5%.

Provincial data showed Lusaka recording the highest annual inflation rate at 8.6%, up from 8.1% in September, while Eastern Province and Luapula Province recorded the lowest rates at 4.6% each.

Although annual inflation remains well below last year's level, the October figures point to renewed price pressures concentrated in non-food items, particularly energy and services.