from Business Day (14 March 2004)     MORE NEWS   HOME
Zimbabwe's inflation rate slows to 602.5%

HARARE - Zimbabwe's annual inflation rate slowed slightly to 602.5% in February from 622.8% in January, official figures showed. The drop in consumer prices is the first this year, a year that the central bank is certain inflation will drop to below 200%.

The decline in inflation figures, cited by state television "has been largely due to the drop in non-food inflation".

Despite the drop the rate remains one of the highest in the world,\ translating to almost three times the January 2003 rate of 208.1%.

The government in November last year predicted the southern African country's inflation rate would hit 700% in the first three months of this year before climbing down.

Zimbabwe has in recent years been in the throes of political, economic and social instability.

AFP

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