Higher flour prices in Khomas, annual inflation recedes

TIRI MASAWI 

Consumers in the Khomas region are paying a higher price for white flour compared to all the other regions in the country, despite a significant reduction in inflation to 3.2%.

Inflation stood at 4.4% in the same period last year.

The latest Consumer Price Index released by the Namibia Statistics Agency on Thursday shows that consumers in Khomas region (Zone 2) paid the highest price for a bag of white bread flour of 2.5kg at N$54.93, followed by those living Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena (Zone 1)  consumers at N$50.99, while those in //Kharas, Erongo, Hardap, Omaheke regions (Zone 3) consumers paid the lowest price at N$49.58.

Statistician General Alex Shimuafeni said the headline annual inflation rate for August 2025, stood at 3.2 percent compared to 4.4 percent registered in August 2024.

 “On a monthly basis, the inflation rate was observed at 0.0 percent compared to 0.1 percent witnessed a month ago.

The Zonal inflation rates for the month of August 2025 revealed that Zone 1 (Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi regions) recorded the highest rate at 3.6 percent, while Zone 3 (//Kharas, Erongo, Hardap, Omaheke regions) recorded 3.2 percent followed by Zone 2 (Khomas region) which recorded 2.9 percent,” Shimuafeni.

Shimuafeni said the the  analysis of the average retail prices of selected products for August 2025 revealed that consumers in Zone 2 paid the highest price for apples (1Kg) at N$41.42, followed by Zone 3 consumers at N$38.66, while consumers in Zone 1 paid the lowest price at N$33.55. 

“The core inflation stood at 3.6 percent, slightly higher than the headline inflation rate of 3.2 percent. The term “core inflation” describes a measure of inflation that excludes certain volatile elements from the overall inflation calculation. 

“These volatile elements typically include food and energy (excluding Gas, Paraffin, methylate spirits and Coal, Charcoal) prices, which tend to experience significant price fluctuations due to factors such as weather conditions, geopolitical events, or changes in supply and demand,” he said.