Zambia inflation stalls at 6.5% in July as food prices ease

Sticky headline inflation in Zambia complicates the monetary outlook, even as falling staple food costs offer a glimmer of relief for consumers.

Av Handelsavisen Newsroom · Automatisert 31. juli 2026, 06:09 UTC · 1 min lesetid

Zambia’s annual inflation rate held steady at 6.5% in July 2026, matching the figure recorded in June, according to data reported by local media.

The persistence of headline inflation at this level suggests that price pressures remain entrenched despite earlier easing trends in the region.

53% to K27. This decline in staple food costs provides some immediate relief to households, though it was insufficient to drag the broader annual inflation rate lower in the month.

While the overall rate stalled, specific components of the consumer basket showed signs of cooling.

The national average price for a 25 kg bag of breakfast mealie meal, a staple food item, fell by 7.53% to K27.

This decline in staple food costs provides some immediate relief to households, though it was insufficient to drag the broader annual inflation rate lower in the month.

The stagnation in Zambia’s inflation contrasts with recent trends in neighboring economies.