KHARTOUM: Sudan’s average inflation rate rose to 16.5 percent in July in compare to 14.31 % in June, 13.98% in May and 12.85 % in April, the official Central Statistics Office said on Wednesday. A vendor sells vegetables during Ramadan at a local market in north Khartoum August 3, 2012 (REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)
Up to March the inflation rate in Sudan was declining slowly and reached 11.70 % while the government was trying to curb inflation rate to stabilize commodities and services prices. Prices and services have soared in Sudan since South Sudan seceded in 2011, taking with it three quarters of the country’s oil output, the main source of foreign currency used to support the Sudanese pound.
The statistics office statement pointed that the inflation has increased in July due to the increase of 12 commodities and services prices including food, drinks and services. Price of the US dollar has witnessed sharp increase in the black market in Khartoum since last April settling at 15 pounds (SDG) while the official exchange rate still stands at 6.4 pounds. The dollar is needed for food and other essential imports.
