Residents of Ghana’s Upper West Region are bearing the brunt of the economic hardship as data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) show that goods and services in that part of the country cost the most.

The region recorded the highest rate of inflation among all the regions, 11.1 per cent, which is way above the national inflation rate of 9.4 per cent.

GSS on Wednesday, 12 June announced that the national inflation rate for May is 9.4 per cent, a 1 percentage point drop from the 9.5 per cent recorded in April.

Among the regions, Upper East recorded 8 per cent, Northern Region recorded 8.7 per cent, Central region recorded 9 per cent, Greater Accra region recorded 9.1 per cent, Eastern Region – 9.1 per cent, Volta region – 9.4 per cent, Ashanti Region – 9.6 per cent, Western region 10 per cent, and Brong Ahafo region – 10.5.

The food and non-alcoholic beverages group recorded a year-on-year inflation rate of 6.7 per cent. This is a 1.1 percentage point lower than the rate recorded in April 2019. Five subgroups of the food and non-alcoholic beverages group recorded inflation rates higher than the group’s average rate of 6.7 per cent.

The non-food group recorded a year-on-year inflation rate of 10.6 per cent in May 2019, compared to 10.4% recorded for April 2019. Four subgroups recorded year-on-year inflation rates higher than the group’s average rate of 10.6 per cent.

Clothing and footwear, recreation and culture recorded the highest inflation rate of 15.0 per cent, followed by furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance with 14.5 per cent, and transport with 12.5 per cent. Inflation was lowest in the Communication subsector with 6.1 per cent.

It is not clear if the Ghana Statistical Service has started computing figures for the six newly-created regions.



Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com/91.3FM