Zambia’s annual inflation rate rose to 11.2% in December 2025 from a 27-month low of 10.9% in the previous month, snapping a seven-month streak of easing price pressures. The uptick was driven by a sharp acceleration in non-food inflation (8.7% vs 6.6% in October), reflecting higher prices for garments and air passenger transport. In contrast, food inflation eased slightly (12.9% vs 13.9%), marking the lowest reading since August 2023, mainly due to slower price increases in cereals and meats. On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased by 1.5%, the strongest rise since February, accelerating from a 0.7% gain in October.