By BUUMBA CHIMBULUTHE potential increase in electricity tariffs and the possible reintroduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products may put upward pressure on energy costs and subsequently input costs for manufacturing,” the FNB Zambia has stated in its monthly agribusiness bulletin.Inflationary pressures are expected in the second half of the year as base effects start to unwind and as the nation moves into a new summer agricultural season at higher fertiliser prices.This is according to the First National Bank (FNB) Zambia which expects to see more pressure on food prices during the second quarter of 2022.The country’s current inflation rate for June stands at 9.7 percent.According to FNB Zambia, base effects and currency appreciation had continued to underpin the disinflationary trend.Base effects, it stated, represented the numerical benefit that arose from having a high reference point when comparing percentage changes between two periods.“Given that inflation peaked at 24.6 percent last year in July, […]
Zesco tariff increase predicted
