Sudan’s inflation climbs to 42.6% in November

The inflation rate for November reached 42.6 percent, compared with 40.3 percent for the month of October. According to the periodic report of the Sudanese Central Bureau of Statistics on November 2013, the prices of food and beverages recorded a variation of increases and declines. Meat prices declined by 1.9 percent, fruit prices fell by 2.7 percent, and fish and seafood by 0.8 percent Prices of mineral water and soft drinks rose by 10.5 percent, coffee, tea and cocoa by 6.8 percent, milk, cheese and eggs by 3.8 percent, while beans and vegetables increased by 3.1 percent. The report indicated that the prices of all commodity groups and other services during the month of October increased to varying degrees. The highest price rise was recorded for household tools, 6.6 percent, while health care scored the lowest increase, 0.7 percent. The prices of consumer goods and services during the 11 months of 2013 grew by 36 percent compared with 33.8 percent for the 11 months of 2012. In September the Government took a number of decisions which led to the lifting of subsidies on most of the basic goods, while price increases were directly imposed on other items, in order to bridge the gap in the general national budget. After the secession of South Sudan in 2011, Sudan lost 75 percent of its oil revenues. According to government reports, the economic crisis will continue unless further measures are taken in the 2014 budget, which is expected to pass at the National Assembly the coming days. (Source: Sada El Ahdas newspaper) File photo Related: Fuel shortage causes East Darfur transport prices increase three-fold (21 November 2013)