Regional price disparities persist, inflation data shows

The European Union (UN) says it is keen to further bolster its trade relations with Namibia following the launch of the Namibia trade information portal, and says it may deepen export markets particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This was the sentiment of EU ambassador to Namibia, Ana Beatriz Martins. The portal is designed to provide businesses with a single source of trade-related regulations, easing access to key information needed for imports, exports, and compliance. Now in operation, it aims to reduce delays, cut costs, and make it easier for businesses and SMEs to expand into international markets.“The EU is actually Namibia's biggest trading partner and most diverse, so we are Namibia's first export market and also the most diverse market for Namibia with products ranging from charcoal to fisheries to mines and other agricultural products,” Martins said of the EU’s efforts to expand trade relations. “We are very happy with thNamibia’s annual inflation rate fell to 3.6% in February 2025, down from 5% a year earlier, signaling a gradual easing of price pressures across the economy, following the release of the inflation figures by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA). “The headline annual inflation rate for February 2025, stood at 3.6% compared to 5% registered in February 2024. On a monthly basis, the inflation rate was 0.4%, a slow increase compared to 1.1% registered during the preceding month,” the NSA said. However, regional disparities persist, with Zone 2 (Khomas region) and Zone 3 (//Kharas, Erongo, Hardap, Omaheke regions) recording the highest inflation rate of 3.7%, while Zone 1 posted a slightly lower rate of 3.5%, the NSA’s data showed. “The Zonal year-on-year inflation rates for the month of February 2025 revealed that Zone 2 (Khomas region) and Zone 3 ( //Kharas, Erongo, Hardap, Omaheke regions) recorded the highest rate of 3.7%, while by Zone 1 (Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi regions) recorded an annual inflation rate of 3.5%,” the NSA said. Consumers in Zone 2 and Zone 3 also faced higher prices for essential goods like sunflower oil and tinned pilchards, underscoring the uneven impact of inflation across the country. “An analysis of the average retail prices for selected products in February 2025 revealed that consumers in Zone 2 paid the highest price for 750 millilitres of pure sunflower oil at N$34.32, followed by Zone 3 at N$31.05, while the lowest price of N$29.78 was paid by consumers in Zone 1,” the NSA said. “Meanwhile, consumers in Zone 3 paid the highest price for tinned pilchards in tomato sauce, 400 grams at N$37.17; followed by Zone 2 at N$35.60, and Zone 1 consumers paying the lowest price of N$30.03,” it added. Core inflation on the other hand, which excludes volatile items, remained steady at 3.5%, suggesting that underlying inflationary pressures are moderating, the NSA said.

Regional price disparities persist, inflation data shows

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Republikein 2025-04-16

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