Mozambique’s annualised consumer inflation eased to 0.29 percent in April from 3.41 percent in March, official data showed on Tuesday.
According to the latest figures published by the National Statistics Institute (INE) and based on the consumer price indices for the three largest cities of Maputo, Nampula and Beira, the decline in inflation came despite significant price rises in some commodities in April.
The price increases were for onions at 17.6 percent, sweet potato (17.7 percent), cabbage (13.4 percent), maize flour (3.6 percent), charcoal (3.6 percent) and dried fish (1.85 percent).
These price increases were however offset by declines in the cost of prawns fell by 9.8 percent, coconuts (3.9 percent) and lettuce (3.9 percent).
“The average price of beer also fell by 0.7 percent – perhaps because the main brewing company, CDM, recently introduced a new brand, “Dourada”, which is much cheaper than its traditional brands,” INE said in a statement.
The price cut that could have the greatest effect is the one percent fall in the price of petrol, according to INE.
The city by city statistics shows that life is much more expensive in Beira than in Maputo or Nampula in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai, which devastated the city in March.
CM/jn/APA