CAIRO — Egypt’s annual inflation price reached a document excessive in July, as worth hikes proceed unabated within the cash-strapped North African nation, official figures mentioned Thursday.
Shopper costs rose 38.2% from a 12 months earlier, up from 36.8% in June, based on knowledge launched by the state-run Central Company for Mobilization and Statistics.
Common food and beverage costs, the principle drivers of inflation, elevated 68.2% over the previous 12 months, the company’s knowledge confirmed.
Egyptians, significantly working-class households, are struggling to maintain up with the rising costs, which have soared since Russia invaded Ukraine final 12 months.
Egypt is the world’s largest wheat importer, with most of its provides historically coming from japanese Europe. However Russia pulled out of a wartime settlement in July that allowed Ukraine to ship its grain to the world.
Egypt and different Center Japanese international locations have diversified their sources of wheat, the principle ingredient for flatbread that may be a staple of diets, and don’t count on shortages. However the finish of the grain deal has helped push up costs for world meals commodities like wheat, vegetable oil and rice, additionally tied to commerce restrictions on rice from India.
The primary challenge is weakening currencies in nations like Egypt, which suggests they should pay extra for imported meals priced in U.S. {dollars}. For the reason that invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Egyptian pound has misplaced over 50% of its worth towards the greenback.
The depreciation accelerated after Egypt’s authorities introduced it had reached a $3 billion bailout settlement with the Worldwide Financial Fund in October. In alternate, the Egyptian authorities agreed to implement a number of financial reforms, together with a shift to a versatile alternate price.
In a single good signal, the falling worth of the foreign money makes Egyptian items cheaper and extra aggressive internationally.
Over the previous 12 months, Egypt’s central financial institution has tried to focus on inflation by mountain climbing its predominant rates of interest. Final week, the financial institution’s most simple price of lending, the in a single day deposit price, elevated from 18.25% to 19.75%.
Even earlier than the warfare, rising costs have been frequent in Egypt. One of many drivers was an bold reform program, launched in 2016, that aimed to reverse longstanding distortions within the nation’s battered economic system.
Practically a 3rd of Egyptians reside in poverty, official figures say.