Price levels surged by 39.2% in July 2011 as compared to similar month last year, according to the report released today by Ethiopia’s Central Statistical Agency. It is to be recalled that the monthly inflation rate stood at 38.1% last month.

July 2011 monthly Inflation (based on comparison of Current vs. Last year’s similar month)

The month July exhibited a 39.2 percent increase as compared to the price levels in the similar month last year. Prices of food items surged by 47.4 percent, while the non-food inflation increased by 27.8 percent in July 2011 as compared to the prices of July 2010.

The breakdown of the General Consumer Price Index indicates price levels increased as follows:

• Food 47.4 percent,
• Beverages by 27.0 percent,
• Cigarettes and Tobacco by 44.8 percent,
• Clothing and Footwear by 35.5 percent,
• House Rent, Construction Materials, Water and Fuel and Power by 22.7 percent,
• Furniture, Furnishings, Household Equipment and Operation by 29.6 percent,
• Medical Care and Health by 12.8 percent,
• Transport and Communication by 44.3 percent,
• Recreation, Entertainment and Education by 32.3 percent,
• Personal Care Effects by 43.0 percent and Miscellaneous Goods by 12.4 percent .

The 47.4 percent increase in Food index is due to increases in the prices of:

Cereals (42.1 percent), Pulses (82.1 percent), Bread and Other Prepared Food (19.5 percent), of Meat (32.2 percent), Milk, Cheese and Eggs (36.2 percent), oils and Fats (90.2 percent), Vegetables and fruits (25.3 percent), Spices by (45.4 percent), Potatoes, Other Tubers and Stems (44.4 percent), Coffee and Tea Leaves (104.8 percent), Other Food Items (9.5 percent), Milling Charge by (15.8 percent), and Food Taken Away from Home (33.3 percent) respectively.

However, the rate of Food inflation is slower rate than the rate of increase observed last month, according to the report.

At regional level, the July month Geneal Consumer Price Index (as compared to July 2010) increased as follows:

Addis Ababa 30.1 percent, Afar 34.4 percent, Amhara 37.3 percent, Benishangul Gumuz 54.7 percent, Dire Dawa 32.4 percent, Gambella 42.7 percent, Harari 30.8 percent, Oromia 41.5 percent, SNNP by 47.5 percent, Somali 40.8 percent and Tigray 26.8 percent

On the other hand, food inflation at regional food inflation had been:

Addis Ababa 27.4 percent, Afar 30.6 percent, Amhara 40.3 percent, Benishangul Gumuz 76.8 percent, Dire Dawa 39.6 percent, Gambella 54.8 percent, Harari 33.5 percent, Oromia 51.2 percent, SNNP 64.7 percent, Somali 49.1 percent and Tigray 24.7 percent.

The 12 months Moving Average Inflation at Country Level

The report also indicated that the country level overall inflation rate (annual change based on 12 months Moving Average) increased by 20.9 percent in July 2011 as compared to the one observed in a similar period a year ago.

The 12 months moving average indicates prices of food items surged by 19.8 percent, while Non-food inflation rate increased by 22.6 percent in July 2011 as compared to the 12 months Moving Average recorded in July 2010.

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See the previous post Ethiopia: Inflation rate data by region and items for monthly inflation data of June 2010 to June 2011.