S. Sudan: High food prices push inflation rates to 57%
By Julius N. Uma
September, 27, 2011 (JUBA) – Annual inflation levels in Africa’s newest nation hit 57.1 percent in August due to a jump in the rise in cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages estimated at 63.9 percent, South Sudan National Bureau of Statistics (SSNBS) said in its September report.
However, it adds, while the country’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) reportedly increased by 9 percent from July to August 2011, the same index reportedly increased by 57.1 percent from August 2010 to August 2011.
“The monthly change in the CPI was 9.0% from July to August 2011. Food and non-alcoholic beverages increased in price by 5.5%. This was mainly driven by higher prices of dried fish, sugar, cooking oil products and some fresh meat products,” the report says.
Meanwhile, prices of an alcoholic beverages & tobacco, according to SSNBS, increased by 38.9%, compared to July 2011. This increment, it says, was mainly due to the price rise of tobacco, while prices of miscellaneous goods and services reportedly rose by 17%.
Also cited in the September report were prices on transport items and services, which instead fell by 20.3 percent from July to August 2011. However, price increases of alcoholic beverages & tobacco of 88.9% and furnishing & household equipment 81.2% respectively reportedly contributed to the high annual growth.
Reacting to the report, Angelo Deng, an economic consultant in Juba, the South Sudan capital said the closure of the north-south border before and after South Sudan gained independence on July 9 could have impacted gravely on the “absurd” rise in food prices.
“The problem is that we heavily relied on goods from neighboring north [Sudan] as when they closed their borders with the south, what did you expect? The higher the market supply, the lower the demand and vice versa,” Deng told Sudan Tribune.
Both the Sudan and South Sudan, Deng added, should closely work together and ensure that resolutions derived from the recently signed border agreement are fully implemented. Borders between north and south were closed before the south attained its independence over two months ago.
The statistics body, formerly known as the Southern Sudan Centre for Census, Statistics and Evaluation (SSCCSE) is the official statistical agency of the government of the Republic of South Sudan.
(ST)
Akol Liai
S. Sudan: High food prices push inflation rates to 57%
Food production and the high rise of food prices is a very complex thing, but could be tackled if given a priority by the government. Focusing on modern agriculture, construction of roads and rail lines would solve the problems. I would like to see these roads and rail-lines network linking cities, towns, localities in South Sudan as well as linking it with the neigbouring countries.
Akol Liai Mager
S. Sudan: High food prices push inflation rates to 57%
The rules introduced by the Editor in-chief will never serve the purpose since signing at the top or the bottom of comments with names is an optional for comments writers. I strongly recommend to Sudantribune, the use of proper names/identification for writers as the condition for accepting the comment to be posted to the site. The limitation of words is good, but it should be between 700-800 word
akot
S. Sudan: High food prices push inflation rates to 57%
don’t laugh my enemy from North 57% inflation is nothing for us, we will survive, in 1988 i think it was 100% inflated, so it is not suprising.
Isaac Khamis
S. Sudan: High food prices push inflation rates to 57%
Goverment need to have better economists who can forecast the increase and decreases in the markets because the per cent shown is inaccurate because prices can not jump to 57.1 per cent.
Bush
S. Sudan: High food prices push inflation rates to 57%
Laziness, dependence and cattle rustling are few of the many problems that contribute to food shortage. Let’s cultivate more vegetables and cereals, encourage bee keepers to make more bee-hives to produce more honey, let’s not blame our young government at this time.
Bush
S. Sudan: High food prices push inflation rates to 57%
@above
What happened on the streets of Khartoum on Tuesday? North is not a safe heaven, and we will not take to the streets against our government, we have resources that need to be utilized and we will be well, remember our nation is just 2 1/2 months old.
whatsayyou
S. Sudan: High food prices push inflation rates to 57%
I ppeal to Ross to do the following in order to save peaple of south sudan from this serious food crises.
1.Repair roads to make transport easy.
2.Have another partner apart from north sudan.
3.Promotion of agricultue.
4.Impelment the promise of building oil mobile refineries without delay.
By doing such suoth sudan wll not suffer again for the subject mention above.< By MATHIRKUEI>
Abugua
S. Sudan: High food prices push inflation rates to 57%
Do not laugh North is even worst hit by inflation. Yesterday there was riots in Khartoum due to high prices. the government said people should not eat meat to cut cost.While we eat meat daily in South Sudan
johnny
S. Sudan: High food prices push inflation rates to 57%
South Sudan is rich, but we should exploit our resources, government should help the farmers by clearing the land with landmines and provide them with equipments, citizens are willing to work but they cannot do it prior to government’s help.
Abel Leek
S. Sudan: High food prices push inflation rates to 57%
food production should be encourage so that the local people can exercise agricultural activities in order to reduce high price for good.