Zambia's Inflation Eases to 7.1 Per Cent as Food Prices Cool

Zambia's annual inflation rate eased to 7.1 per cent in March 2026, down from 7.5 per cent in February, according to the latest statistics bulletin released in Lusaka today. The Zambia Statistics Agency's Statistician General, Sheila Mudenda, attributed the slowdown to moderating prices across both food and non-food categories.

When food prices rise more slowly, family budgets stretch further. Monthly food inflation dropped to 0.7 per cent in March from 0.9 per cent in February, a welcome signal that the cost of feeding a family is beginning to ease.

At the provincial level, Central Province saw inflation ease from 7.3 per cent in February to 6.8 per cent in March, while Lusaka Province recorded 8.8 per cent, up marginally from 8.7 per cent.

On trade, Zambia posted a surplus of 5.7 billion kwacha in February 2026, though export earnings declined by 1.4 per cent over the period.

Overall, the March figures indicate that price pressures are gradually easing. For Zambian households, that means the cost of living is coming down and the goods on the shelf are becoming more affordable.