Inflation sinks to fresh low
Friday, January 16, 2015
Last month's fuel price decrease drove down inflation
Figures released by Statistics Botswana yesterday, show that the decline was largely on the back of fuel price decreases effected in December last year as government reduced petrol and diesel prices in tandem with falling international oil prices.
The December inflation is the lowest rate since Botswana adopted the pula currency in 1976, with the previous lowest recorded in June 1972 at 3.5 percent.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...