Consumer prices in Senegal increased by 2.1% compared to the previous quarter, according to data compiled by the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD) based in Dakar.
"This development is jointly explained by that of the prices of food products and non-alcoholic beverages, communication services, restaurants and hotels, health as well as furniture, household items and routine household maintenance", notes the ANSD.

Food products and non-alcoholic beverages thus rose by 4.0% during the period under review, due to the increase in the prices of fresh products, such as fresh fish (+11.7%), fresh vegetables fruits or roots (+27.5%) and fresh leafy vegetables (+92.6%), as well as tubers and plantains (+20.1%). The ANSD argues that the increase in fresh fish prices is driven by the decrease in supply, resulting from the decline in fishing landings during the third quarter of 2020. In addition, the surge in fresh vegetable prices is explained by the low market garden yields during the rainy season. Also, the rise in prices for mutton or goat meat (+7.1%), other fats (+8.8%), other fresh fruits (+7.1%) and other fresh products from the sea or river (+4.7%) contributed to the change in prices for food products.

However, lower prices for citrus fruits (-5.7%), dried fruits and nuts (-6.4%), fish and other dried or smoked products (-7.1%) and poultry (- 3.3%) did not offset this uptrend.

As for the prices of communication services, they improved by 1.1% compared to the second quarter of 2020. This situation is attributable to the increase in the prices of telephone communication services (+1.9%). , in connection with the reduction in credit promotion offers compared to the second quarter of 2020. In addition, the rise in the prices of telephony and fax equipment (+0.2%) contributed to the increase in the cost of communication services.

For their part, the prices of restaurant and hotel services rose by 0.6% in quarterly variation, due to the rise in the price of services from restaurants, cafes and similar establishments (+0.4%) and canteens (+2.2%). The prices of health goods and services appreciated by 0.4% in the third quarter of 2020. This change is consecutive to that of the prices of traditional medicines (+4.0%), services of medical auxiliaries (+ 0.7%), hospital services (+1.1%) and therapeutic devices and materials (+0.8%).

For their part, the prices of furniture, household items and routine household maintenance increased by 0.2% during the period under review. According to the ANSD, this situation is the result of an acceleration in the prices of other household utensils (+0.4%), small electrical or household appliances and repairs (+1.7%), domestic services (+0, 4%), as well as housing services except domestic services (+0.3%). On another note, the ANSD stresses that the acceleration of prices in Senegal follows the simultaneous appreciation of those of local and imported products.

In annual variation, consumer prices increased by 2.8%, in line with the rise in prices of almost all the functions that make up the basket. The ANSD notes in this regard that with the exception of clothing and footwear, all the other functions of the basket recorded a price increase during the period under review. Over the first nine months of 2020, consumer prices increased by 2.5% compared to their level for the corresponding period in 2019. The average annual inflation rate stood at +2.2 %.