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Zambia’s annual inflation rate slowed to 6.2 percent in August 2026, down from 6.5 percent in July 2026, signaling continued moderation in the rate at which prices of goods and services are rising, authorities have revealed.
Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats) Acting Statistician General, Chola Daka, announced the figures during a media briefing in Lusaka on Thursday.
According to ZamStats, food inflation declined to 6.0 percent from 6.4 percent in July, 2026. Daka attributed the drop mainly to price movements in selected cereals, sugar, cooking oil and dried beans.
Non-food inflation also eased to 6.6 percent from 6.7 percent in July, 2026 and the decrease was mainly attributed to price movements in selected fuels and lubricants and the purchase of vehicles.
The overall monthly inflation rate remained unchanged at 0.2 percent in August 2026, the same rate recorded in July 2026.
Provincially, annual inflation declined in seven provinces namely Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Lusaka, North Western, Southern and Western. However, it increased in Luapula and Northern Provinces.
Read More: Zambia’s July inflation holds at 6.5%, trade surplus narrows
On trade, Zambia recorded a K4.1 billion trade surplus in July 2026, compared with K4.2 billion in June 2026, representing a marginal reduction.
“Total trade increased by 0.2 percent, from K55.1 billion in June to K55.2 billion in July 2026, reflecting a marginal increase in the value of Zambia’s trade during the month,” Daka said.
The Statistician General said refined copper export earnings declined by 4.5 percent, while export volumes decreased by 7.9 percent in July 2026.
However, cumulative refined copper export volumes increased by 8.8 percent between January and July 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
Daka added that agricultural Non-Traditional Export earnings increased by 20.9 percent, while non-agricultural Non-Traditional Export earnings rose by 3.0 percent in July 2026.
On trade partners, Canada remained Zambia’s leading export destination, accounting for 34.8 percent of total export earnings, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo at 15.5 percent and China at 12.4 percent.
“South Africa remained the largest source of Zambia’s imports, accounting for 25.6 percent of the import bill, followed by China at 24.1 percent,” Daka said.
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