Rudolf Gaiseb
Namibia’s inflation rate for March 2025 stood at 0.5%, an increase from 0.4% in February 2025. This is according to the Namibia Statistics Agency’s (NSA’s) Namibia Consumer Price Index (NCPI) report.
The report revealed that consumers in zone 3, consisting of //Kharas, Erongo, Hardap and Omaheke, paid the highest price for 5kg maize meal at N$82.19. This was followed by zone 1 (Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa and Zambezi regions) at N$78.66.
NSA statistics indicate the lowest price of N$69.74 was paid by consumers in the Khomas region. “Meanwhile, consumers in zone 1 paid the highest price for beef stew per kg at N$108.99; followed by zone 3 at N$106.88, and zone 2 consumers paying the lowest price of N$100.39,” the report states.
The headline annual inflation rate for March 2025 stood at 4.2%, compared to 4.5% registered in March 2024. The highest annual inflation rates were reflected in the categories of ‘hotels, cafés and restaurants’ (6.8%); ‘food and non-alcoholic beverages’ (6.2%); ‘alcoholic beverages and tobacco’ (5.5%); ‘recreations and culture’ and ‘education’ (4.3%).
Meanwhile, food and non-alcoholic beverages, which accounts for 16.5% of the NCPI basket, recorded an annual inflation rate of 6.2% in March 2025, compared to 4.9% witnessed in March 2024.
The inflation rate for this component stood at 0.3%, compared to the 0.9% increase recorded the previous month
“The housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels’ component accounts for 28.4% of the consumer basket. The annual inflation rate for this category recorded an increase of 3.8% in March 2025, compared to 3.4% observed in March 2024. On a monthly basis, this category registered an inflation rate of 0.2% during the review period, compared to 0% witnessed in February 2025,” it stipulates.
Meanwhile, fruit prices rose significantly by 17.3% during the review period, compared to 9.8% recorded a year ago.
The increase in the annual inflation rate for this sub-category was mainly reflected in the price levels of ‘watermelons’ (from -1.3% to 36.5%); ‘citrus fruits’ (from 15.6% to 31.9%); and ‘avocados’ (from 7.2% to 17.9%).
The annual inflation rate for bread and cereals increased to 6.1%, compared to -1.4% (deflation) observed in March 2024.
“The increase in this sub-category mainly emanated from the price levels of ‘maize, meal/grain’ (from -11.0% to 11.4%); ‘bread, cake flour’ (from -5.5% to -0.3%) and ‘rice’ (from 7.6% to 11.4%). Oils and fats prices increased by 5.2% during March 2025, compared -0.7% recorded in March 2024. The increase was mainly reflected in the price levels of ‘cooking oil’ (from -3.3% to 5.5 %) and ‘cooking fats’ (from -2.6 % to 3.9%),” the report states.
The meat sub-component registered an annual inflation rate of 7.4% in March 2025, compared to the 5.4% recorded in March 2024. The increase is mainly witnessed in the price levels of ‘biltong’ (from -7.2% to 9.0%); ‘minced meat’ (from -0.5% to 11.9%); ‘mutton/lamb’ (-0.8% to 6.8%) and ‘sausages’ (2.2% to 7.1%).
Significantly, the annual inflation rate for the alcoholic beverages and tobacco category, which accounts for 12.6% of the consumer basket, stood at 5.5% during the period under review, compared to 6.8% registered a year ago. The month-on-month inflation rate for this category increased to 1.6%, compared to the 0.4% that was recorded a month ago.