Windhoek — The annual inflation rate slowed to 9.6% in May from 10% in April, the Central Bureau of Statistics said.

The monthly inflation rate for May was estimated at 0.4%, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points over the April rate of 0.6%.

This decrease resulted from monthly decreases recorded in the sub-groups of package holidays, carpets and other floor coverings, oils and fats, fruits, bread and cereals, heating and cooking appliances, refrigerators and washing machines.

The All-Items Index for May increased by 0.7 percentage points up from 163.5 in April to 164.2.

The index for food and non-alcoholic beverages for May increased to 191.8, a monthly increase of 0.9 percentage points from 190.9 recorded in April 2009. This increase was due to increases recorded in the subgroups of sugar, jam, honey, syrups, chocolate and confectionery (3.1%), coffee, tea and cocoa (2.6%), vegetables including potatoes and other tubers (2.4%), food products, (2.2%), non alcoholic beverages (1.4%) as well as fish (0.7%).

"The annual inflation rate for May 2009 stood at 9.6% compared to 9.7% recorded during the same period last year. The annual inflation rates for the major groups comprising the NCPI were food and non-alcoholic Beverages (12.4%), housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (8.3%) and transport (5.5%).