Tanzania Inflation Rate Slows to 6-Month Low of 5.2%

Consumer prices in Tanzania rose 5.2 percent year-on-year in July of 2017, easing from a 5.4 percent rise in the previous month. It is the lowest inflation rate since January this year, mainly due to a slowdown in prices of food and transport. On a monthly basis, consumer prices went down 0.2 percent, after declining 0.1 percent in June.
National Bureau of Statistics | Luisa Carvalho | luisa.carvalho@tradingeconomics.com 8/9/2017 2:56:10 PM
Year-on-year, cost slowed for food and non-alcoholic beverages (8.9 percent vs 9.6 percent in June); transport (0.1 percent vs 0.4 percent); alcoholic beverages & tobacco (2.4 percent vs 3 percent) and advanced at the same pace for housing & utilities (7.1 percent) and clothing and footwear (3.8 percent). In addition, prices declined for communication (-1 percent, the same pace as in June).

On the other hand, cost rose faster for: furniture & household equipment (3.3 percent vs 3.2 percent); restaurants & hotels (0.8 percent vs 0.7 percent); miscellaneous goods & services (4 percent vs 3.7 percent); health (2.4 percent vs 2.2 percent); recreation and culture (1 percent vs 0.8 percent) and education (0.9 percent vs 0.8 percent).

Annual core inflation, which excludes food and energy increased 2.2 percent, quickening from a 1.9 percent rise in the preceding month.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices went down 0.2 percent, following a 0.1 percent fall in June. The decrease is mainly attributed to lower prices of food, including rice (-1.2 percent); maize grains (-1.3 percent); maize flour (-3.9 percent); sorghum grain (-1.6 percent); sorghum flour (-2.4 percent); cassava flour (-6.1 percent); fresh fish (-2.3 percent); beans (-3.2 percent); cassava (-1.2 percent) and vegetables (-0.4 percent). Among non-food items are cooking gas (-2.1 percent) and firewood (-3.6 percent).

Tanzania Inflation Rate Slows to 6-Month Low of 5.2%