Malawi’s headline inflation remained the highest in recent months compared to peer nations despite a slight ease, figures tabulated by the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) show.
In its latest Market Intelligence report issued last week, the central bank says inflationary pressure persisted across some selected sub- Saharan economies.
But in Malawi, the headline inflation decelerated to 23.4 percent in May 2026 from 24.3 percent in April 2026.
This, according to the RBM, is reflecting easing pressures in both food and non-food components.
In the month under review, food inflation dropped to 17.6 percent from 19.1 percent in April, while nonfood inflation softened to 33.0 percent from 33.2 percent in the same period.
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Meanwhile, in its May 2026 Market Intelligence Report, RBM says Malawi’s macroeconomic environment showed some signs of improvement, with the inflation moderating during the month as pressures from both food and non-food components eased.
Commenting on recent trends, RBM deputy governor Kisu Simwaka wrote that arresting inflation for Malawi would require policy sequencing and coordination.
“We must do what is necessary to bring inflation down, and keep it down.
“It requires the government, and all relevant institutions to move in the same direction. All necessary measures must be taken, without delay and without ambiguity,” Simwaka said.
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Comparitively, according to figures provided, in neighbouring Zambia, inflation fell to 6.6 percent in May 2026 from 6.8 percent in the prior month, marking the lowest since February 2018 and extending the slowdown to a fifth consecutive month.
In Mozambique, inflation stood at 7.2 percent, accelerating from 4.4 percent in the prior month.
The inflation in Tanzania edged up to 4.2 percent from 4.0 percent in April 2026 due to soaring prices of transportation and food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Angola’s inflation eased to 10.9 percent from 11.6 percent in April.
Inflation in Rwanda eased to 12.9 percent from 13.0 percent in the previous month, largely driven by slower price increases in housing and utilities, restaurants and hotels, and imported goods.
In contrast, Botswana’s inflation rose to 10.7 percent in May 2026 from 10.3 percent in April 2026, marking the highest reading since December 2022.
Likewise, South Africa’s inflation jumped to 4.5 percent in May 2026, explained by increases in transportation and housing and utilities, reflecting pass-through from higher fuel and electricity costs.
