SADC stats reveal pressure on transport rates

The latest SADC
Harmonised Consumer
Price Index release shows
the extent to which
transport operators are
cutting rates.
According to SADC
figures, average transport
prices increased by 3.9%
between June 2016 and
June 2017 – compared to
a regional inflation rate of
10.4%.
As reported to FTW
by freight forwarders
and transport
operators in the
region, rates
remain under
pressure.
Between May
and June this year
transport costs
dropped by 0.5%.
The only other
category where
prices increased
at less than the
inflation rate was
communication
(8.7%) year-on-year.
Countries with the
lowest inflation rates
for the first half of
2017 are Zimbabwe
(0.2%), Botswana (3.3
%), and Zambia (2.2
%).
Countries with
double-digit inflation
rates are Angola
(30.2%), DRC (28.6%),
Mozambique (17%) and
Malawi
(15 %).
For the rest, the
inflation rates are
Madagascar (8.2 %),
Mauritius (8.1%),
Namibia (7.3 %),
Swaziland (6.9 %),
Tanzania (5.4 %), South
Africa (5.3 %), Seychelles
(4.2%) and Lesotho (4.1
%).