Malawi April inflation lowers to 8.1 PCT

LILONGWE (Reuters) - Malawi's inflation slowed a little to 8.1
percent year-on-year in April from 8.2 percent in March due to a
reduction in food prices, the National Statistical Office (NSO) said on
Monday.

Malawi's second consecutive surplus harvest of the
staple maize grain has helped reduce inflation from 15 percent in June
2006 to single digits last year.

This is however the first time
that annual inflation has slowed since resuming an upward trend in
October last year on the back of higher fuel costs.

The NSO
attributed the slowdown to the start of Malawi's harvesting season,
which has seen food prices going down. Food accounts for 58.1 percent
of the consumer price index.

Core inflation -- which excludes food costs -- however accelerated to 10.2 percent from 9.8 percent.

"Non food items have maintained the rising trend in recent months,
buoyed by pressure exerted by rising fuel prices on the international
market," NSO said.