Zambian Growth Decelerates Sharply After Record Power Outages

Zambia’s economic growth rate slowed markedly in the final quarter of last year, resulting in annual output increasing at almost half the rate expected by the government. Inflation slowed to the lowest rate in eight years.

Gross domestic product expanded 1.6% in the three months through December, compared with 8.3% in the prior quarter, according to preliminary data released by the Zambia Statistics Agency on Thursday. The information and communications sector along with wholesale and retail trade slowed in the quarter.