Tanzania inflation up to 4.2 pc in Feb

Tanzania's year-on-year inflation edged up for the first time in five months, with both food and some non-food items contributing to the rise, the national statistics office said.

Year-on-year inflation was 4.2 per cent in February up from 4.0 per cent in January. Month-on-month inflation was 1.6 pct in February from 1.0 pct in January.

The rise of the headline annual inflation rate in February 2015 was caused by an increase in food and non-food items,” the Director of Population Census and Social Statistics, Mr Ephraim Kwesigabo, said at a news conference.

Food items whose prices increased included rice, cassava flour, meat and fish. The prices of non-food items that rose included charcoal, men’s clothing and medical expenses, he said.

“The increase of the Annual Headline Inflation rate for the year ending February, 2015 explains that, the speed of the price increase for commodities in the year ending February, 2015 has slightly increased as compared to the speed of price increase recorded for the year ended January, 2015,” he said.

He also said that the overall index went up to 154.83 in February, 2015 from 148.62 recorded in February, 2014.

“Food and non alcoholic beverages inflation rate has increased in the same speed of 4.9 per cent in February, 2015 as it was recorded in January, 2015, however, the annual inflation rate which excludes food and non-energy for the month of February, 2015 has decreased to 2.7 per cent from 2.8 per cent recorded in January, 2015,” he notified.

“Annual inflation rate for food consumed at home and away from home has increased to 5.1 per cent in February, 2015 from 5.0 per cent recorded in January 2015,” he said.

He added that the 12 month index change for nonfood products has increased to 3.0 per cent in February, 2015 from 2.7 per cent recorded in January, 2015.

“The purchasing power of the 100 shillings has decreased to 64/59 cents in February, 2015 from September, 2010,” he noted.

On the other side, Mr Kwesigabo said the monthly headline inflation rate has increased by 1.6 per cent compared to an increases of 1.0 per cent recorded in January 2015.

He explained that some of the food items that contributed to such increase include Rice by 5.0 per cent, Fish by 3.0 per cent, Citrus fruits by 7.7 per cent, cooking banana by 2.6 per cent and vegetables by 5.3 per cent.

“Also some of the nonfood items that contributed to such increase include charcoal by 11.5 per cent, glass and crystal ware by 2.5 per cent and meals from restaurants by 1.5 per cent,” he said.

He also cited similar inflation increases in neighbouring countries whereby in Uganda, inflation has slightly increased to 1.4 per cent in February, 2015 form 1.3 per cent in January, 2015 and in Kenya it has also slightly increased to 5.61 per cent in February, 2015 from 5.53 per cent recorded in January,2015.
Source: Daily News reported by Lawrence Raphael from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 

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