Food, transportation costs push Ghana’s inflation to 27.6% for May – GSS

Ghana’s inflation rate for May this year reached 27.6 percent from an earlier 23.6 percent recorded in April, the Ghana Statistical Service has said.

The hike was attributed to prices of food and transportation costs making it the highest rate recorded in more the 18 years since 2004.

Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, addressing journalists on Wednesday, June 8 said food prices reached 30.1 percent from a year earlier, compared with a 26.6 percent increase in April.

For Non-food inflation, the rate increased to 25.7 percent, from 21.3 percent in the previous month, with transportation costs increasing by 39 percent.

The Bank of Ghana on May 23 hiked the monetary policy rate by 200 basis points from 17 percent to 19 percent – a move meant to stem rising inflation and address excess liquidity in circulation.

Meanwhile, government is yet to make headway with its move to raise some US$2 billion which will be injected into the economy, and provide relief to the budget and balance of payments.