Inflation drops to 26-month low
Saturday, July 15, 2023 | 620 Views |
Positive signs: Bank of Botswana governor, Moses Pelaelo has said risks persist even as inflation is forecast to decline PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG
Figures published by Statistics Botswana yesterday indicate that the cost of living continues to decline in line with forecasts by the Bank of Botswana and other analysts. This year, inflation has moved from a peak of 9.9 % in March, to its low of 4.6% in June. By comparison, in June last year, inflation was measured at 12.7%, as it marched towards a 14-year peak of 14.6% in August of that year.
In its latest update, Statistics Botswana figures show that annual inflation in food and non-alcoholic beverages dropped to 12.9% in June from 14.3% in May, while inflation associated with transport fell from 4.3% to 1.3%.
It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...