Sudan inflation rate down in February

March 10, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The Central Bureau of Statistics in Sudan reported that the inflation rate declined to 37.0% in February compared to 40.9% in January.

The monthly bulletin released by the governmental body said that the price index for consumer goods and services increased slightly and stood at 386.0 points as opposed to 381.1 points the month before.

The bulletin noted a rise in the overall prices of food and drinks (1.0%); decrease in meat prices (0.1%); decline in prices of sugar, jam, honey, chocolate, and candy (1.9%); decrease in prices of non-alcoholic beverages (0.8%); drop in prices of coffee, tea and cocoa (1.2%).

Sudan imports most of its food from abroad which uses up a significant portion of its already low foreign exchange reserves. The continued decline in the value of the Sudanese pound relative to the US dollar contributed to a surge in prices of basic commodities in the last few years.

Last September the government slashed subsidies on fuel and cooking gas and also devalued the currency which triggered violent protests across the country.

(ST)