SADC Harmonised Consumer Price Indices (HCPI) December 2020

By SADC

The SADC Region registered annual inflation rate of 45.5% in December 2020 compared to December 2019 as measured by the HCPI. Month on Month inflation rate registered an increase of 2.2% in December 2020 compared to November 2020.

Introduction

This is the hundred and eighth issue in series since the launch of news releases on SADC HCPI initiative. It provides updates up to December 2020 on HCPI for SADC Member States.

Annual Inflation rates for SADC Member States

The reported annual inflation rates for December 2020 of SADC Member States indicate that four Member States have recorded highest double-digit inflation rates as follows: Angola (25.5%), DRC (15.9%), Zambia (23.3%) and Zimbabwe (332.9%) whilst Mauritius registered negative inflation rate of 0.1%.

The annual inflation rates for the rest of the other Member States were as follows: Botswana (2.0%), Eswatini (4.8%), Lesotho (5.0%), Madagascar (7.3%), Malawi (7.7%), Mozambique (3.5%), Namibia (3.7%), Seychelles (3.1%), South Africa (4.4%), and Tanzania (3.2%).

Compared to the SADC regional annual average inflation rate of 45.5% for December 2020, fourteen SADC Member States recorded annual rates below the regional average whilst one Member States namely Zimbabwe registered rate higher than the regional average. See figure 3 below for more details.

Month on Month Inflation rates for SADC Member States

Most SADC Member States registered increases in the month on month inflation rate in December 2020 with the exception of Mauritius registering a decrease of 0.1%. The highest increase was registered by Malawi (6.6%) followed by Zimbabwe (4.2%).

Annual Inflation Rates by COICOP divisions

With regard to the Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP) major divisions, four Divisions registered annual inflation less than the regional average of 45.5% in December 2020. These include Education (18.0%), Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels (20.9%), Restaurant & Hotels (40.3%) and Transport (41.7%).

Month on Month Inflation Rates by COICOP divisions

All the Divisions recorded increases in the month on month inflation in December 2020. The highest increase was registered in Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (3.5%) followed by Transport (2.5%).

For more information, please download the full news release here.