Zimbabwe recorded a renewed rise in inflation in April, driven mainly by higher transport and food costs, adding fresh pressure to household budgets as the cost of living continues to climb.
Latest data from Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) showed the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) month-on-month inflation rate rose to 1.1% in April from 0.5% in March. Annual inflation also increased to 4.8% from 4.4%.
“The ZWG month-on-month inflation rate was 1.1 percent in April 2026, gaining 0.6 percentage points on the March 2026 rate of 0.5 percent,” Zimstat said.
“For the month of April 2026, increases in the index were mainly observed in the transport division followed by the food and non-alcoholic beverages division.”
The rise in prices was mirrored in the United States dollar basket, with month-on-month inflation also climbing to 1.1% in April from 0.5% in March. Annual USD inflation accelerated to 2.2% from 1.3%.
The World Food Programme said Zimbabwe’s food security remained fragile in March 2026, citing escalating food prices and weakening household purchasing power in both rural and urban areas.
Analysts attribute part of the pressure to higher global energy costs linked to geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which have unsettled oil markets and increased transport costs.
Zimstat said the Food Poverty Line for one person stood at ZiG909.72 in April, while the Total Consumption Poverty Line reached ZiG1,329.07.
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Upstream production costs also increased. The ZWG Producer Price Index excluding agriculture rose to 226.62 in March from 223.09 in February, translating to a monthly increase of 1.6%.
Construction-related costs also jumped sharply. The Civil Engineering Material Price Index rose to 209.88 in March from 195.92 in February, a month-on-month increase of 7.1%.
Meanwhile, the Building Materials Price Index climbed to 202.47 in March from 194.44 in December 2025, representing a quarterly increase of 4.1%. In US dollar terms, building material costs rose 3.7% over the same period.
The latest figures suggest inflationary pressures are re-emerging across consumer goods, production inputs and construction, raising fresh concerns for businesses and households alike.
