Windhoek residents (zone 2) were paying the lowest price for maize meal in October at N$70.74 for a 5kg bag when compared to other regions across the country.
The latest data from the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) indicates that consumers in zone 3 (the ||Kharas, Erongo, Hardap, and Omaheke regions) paid the highest price for maize meal (5kg) at N$79.79 in the same month.
Those in zone 1 (the Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi regions) paid N$76.40.
On the other hand, fresh loose tomatoes were most expensive in Windhoek at N$44.95 per kg.
In zone 1 consumers paid N$29.35 and those in zone 3 paid N$28.76.
“These price variations highlight the differing supply conditions and transportation costs across the regions,” says statistician general Alex Shimuafeni.
On a monthly basis, inflation increased to 0.5%, up from a stable rate of 0% recorded in September 2025.
“The rise in the annual inflation rate reflects price increases across several key categories,” Shimuafeni says.
The rise was recorded in both food and non-food components during the period under review.
On the other hand, the core inflation rate stood at 3.7%, slightly higher than the headline rate of 3.6%.
Core inflation excludes volatile items such as food and energy products, which are prone to sharp price changes due to factors like weather conditions, geopolitical developments, and shifts in supply and demand.
Zone 1 recorded the highest annual inflation rate at 3.7%, zone 3, followed closely at 3.6% while zone 2 recorded the lowest rate at 3.5%
“These regional differences are mainly driven by variations in food prices and household consumption patterns,” Shimuafeni says.
The highest annual inflation changes were witnessed in hotels, cafés and restaurants(5.0%), food and non-alcoholic beverages (4.6%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (4.6%), education (4.3%), housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (4.1%), and recreation and culture (4.0%).
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