LUSAKA, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's year-on-year inflation for June increased by 0.3 percentage points, its statistics agency said on Friday.
The annual inflation increased to 6.8 percent in June from 6.5 percent in May, according to the Central Statistical Office (CSO) in its monthly bulletin.
CSO director John Kalumbi attributed the increase mainly to an upward adjustment to the electricity tariffs which triggered price increase of essential commodities.
Of the 6.8 percent increase, food and non-alcoholic beverages accounted for 3.1 percentage points while non-food items accounted for 3.7 percentage points, he added.
Last month, the country's energy regulator, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB), approved a 75 percent increase in the price of electricity for retail customers.
The first 50 percent increase became effective on May 15 while the remainder of the rise will be implemented on September 1.
