Zambia’s inflation rate increased for the eighth consecutive month to 13.5% in February, despite the kwacha’s recent appreciation, which is yet to fully impact inflation figures. The uptick in inflation, particularly in food prices, corresponds with a prolonged dry spell affecting much of the country. The government is adjusting its budget to counteract these inflationary pressures. The central bank has implemented monetary tightening measures, such as raising the reserve ratio and the benchmark interest rate, to support the national currency, which has shown a 16% improvement against the dollar this month after a significant drop in January.