WINDHOEK: The price of food, alcohol, transport and recreation is increasing faster than other goods and services in the country, the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) reported on Thursday.

Announcing the Namibia Consumer Price Index (NCPI) for the month of August, NSA Chief Statistician Aloysius Sheehama said the prices of these items are mostly affected by the global financial crisis and fuel price increases since the beginning of this year, amongst others.

The inflation rate for the month of August stood at 5,8 per cent, as compared to 5,4 per cent recorded during the same period last year.

The monthly inflation decreased by 0,2 per cent compared to July’s inflation that stood at 6 per cent.

Among the 12 groups comprising the NCPI, the component ‘recreation and culture’ registered the highest inflation of 9,4 per cent, followed by alcoholic beverages and tobacco with 8,2 per cent.

On the other hand, the components ‘miscellaneous goods and services’ and ‘clothing and footwear’ recorded the lowest annual inflation rate estimated at 3,5 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively.

The 12 groups comprising the NCPI include food and non-alcoholic beverages; alcoholic beverages and tobacco; clothing and footwear; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; furnishings; household equipment and routine maintenance; health; transport; communications; recreation and culture; education; hotels, cafes and restaurants; miscellaneous goods and services.