Zambia’s annual inflation rate reached a nearly four-year high of 15.6% in September, driven by rising food prices due to an El Niño-induced drought, with food prices rising by 17.9%. The economy slowed to 1.7% in Q2, down from 2.2% in the previous quarter, as the drought severely affected crop production. The deteriorating outlook, combined with rising imports of electricity and food, weakened the kwacha, further amplifying inflationary pressures.