Sudan’s monthly inflation rate inches upward in February

March 8, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBoS) in Sudan Tuesday announced that the monthly inflation rate has slightly increased to reach 12, 94% in February compared to 12, 44% in January due to an increase in the consumer goods prices.

According to the CBoS’s monthly bulletin, the price change rate of goods and services in urban areas has registered 14, 73% in February compared to 13,79 in January while in rural areas it has registered 11,44% in February compared to 11,37% in January.

It pointed that seven states have registered an increase in the price change rate in February, saying the highest price increase was in the Gezira state which registered 6,46 points while the lowest price increase was in Khartoum state which registered 1,00 point.

The general price index for the food and beverages has dropped by 2,75% with the legumes and vegetables registering 56,98% as the lowest decrease in the prices of the group.

According to the CBoS, the general price index in the rural areas has been stable during February and registered 0,60% while the food and leverages group registered a decrease of 1,40%.

Sudan’s economy was hit hard since the southern part of the country declared independence in July 2011, taking with it about 75% of the country’s oil output.

The Sudanese pound has lost 100% of its value since South Sudan’s secession, pushing inflation rates to record levels given that country imports most of its food.

The East African nation which became a net importer of oil after the partition is benefiting from the sharp drop in crude prices worldwide weak demand and rise in supplies.

Ordinary citizens, howver, continue to complain from cost of living increases that impaired their access to basic commodities.

The IMF projected that inflation rate would reach 12.4% by the end of 2015.

(ST)