Inflation in Zimbabwe soared to nearly 8,000% in September after briefly falling under 7,000% in August, according to the country’s Central Statistical Office. The official 12-month inflation rate was 7,982% in September, the statistical office said, following 6,592% in August, when it declined from over 7,000%. The statistical office did not offer a breakdown as to which items were driving inflation, saying only that food inflation was marginally lower than nonfood inflation. Economist John Robertson of Harare told reporter Blessing Zulu of VOA’s Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that the government’s grip on the economy was exacerbating the crisis and that it needed to let market forces function properly for the economy to function. Meanwhile, poverty indexes from organizations such as the World Bank have shown Zimbabwe continuing to plunge deeper into poverty. With World Poverty Day being observed on Wednesday, Programs Manager Pedzisayi Ruhanya of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition told reporter Ndimyake Mwakalyelye that there is little hope of an economic turnaround given the political standoff which regionally sponsored crisis talks have barely budged. read more
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