Burundi inflation eases to 9.0 percent in December

Reuters
A Brazilian national flag and South African national flags are flown as a fruit and vegetable vendor prepares his stall in Kliptown, Soweto June 3, 2010. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

BUJUMBURA (Reuters) - Burundi's year-on-year inflation rate eased to 9.0 percent in December from 9.7 percent in November as the pace of increases in food prices slowed, official data showed on Thursday. Food is the key component used to calculate inflation in the tiny east African country of over 8 million people. The food price index rose slightly to 10.7 percent in the 12 months to December from 10.9 percent in November, the Institute of Economic Studies and Statistics (ISTEEBU) said in its report. Burundi's authorities project an annual average inflation of 8 percent this year, with the economy growing at 5.4 percent against an estimated 4.8 percent in 2013.