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Zimbabwe Inflation "Incalculable" (100,000% Inflation By Year's End Alert)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7115651.stm ^ | 11/27/2007 | BBC News

Posted on 11/27/2007 6:03:08 PM PST by goldstategop

Zimbabwe's chief statistician has said it is impossible to work out the country's latest inflation rate because of the lack of goods in shops.

"There are too many data gaps," the Central Statistical Office's Moffat Nyoni told state media.

Many staple goods are often absent from shop shelves after the government ordered prices to be halved or frozen in a bid to stem galloping inflation.

September's inflation rate was put at almost 8,000%, the world's highest.

Other reports suggest the rate could be at near 15,000% and the International Monetary Fund had warned it could reach 100,000% by the end of the year.

Black market

Mr Nyoni said the Central Statistical Office has delayed the release of the inflation figure until an accurate way of calculating it can be found.

"We went to too many shops to observe and so compilations have not been completed," he said.

Maize meal, bread, meat, cooking oil, sugar and other basic goods used to measure inflation largely disappeared from shops after Robert Mugabe's government ordered prices to be slashed.

Manufacturers have said they cannot afford to sell goods at below the cost of producing them.

Most basics are intermittently available on the black market at well over the official prices.

Last month, the central bank offered loans, known as Bacossis, to businesses at 25% interest to restore supplies to shops, AP news agency reports.

"We hope the situation will improve, especially with the availing of Bacossi funds," Mr Nyoni said.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bbcnews; economiccollapse; megainflation; zimbabwe
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To: goldstategop

the 15000% presumably annualized rate works out to like 50% a DAY!

Meaning you have to make sure you spend money the second you get your hands on it, if you can find something to buy.


21 posted on 11/27/2007 6:31:12 PM PST by WoofDog123
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To: Blood of Tyrants

“This is Atlas Shrugged come to life.”

Yep - but the main thing is that the “masses” got to vote.


22 posted on 11/27/2007 6:31:12 PM PST by geopyg (Don't wish for peace, pray for Victory.)
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To: goldstategop
Last month, the central bank (located at your friendly Kinko's Printing Shop in downtown Salisbury - oops make that Harare), offered loans, known as Bacossis, to businesses at 25% interest to restore supplies to shops, AP news agency reports.

I guess the 25% interest is to cover the cost of the paper that they use to print the funny-money.

23 posted on 11/27/2007 6:32:13 PM PST by InterceptPoint
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To: goldstategop

What’s incalculable is the ERA for a mid-innings Cubs pitcher.


24 posted on 11/27/2007 6:32:52 PM PST by InvisibleChurch (Tempus Fidget - The time between the final hymn and recessional.)
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To: WoofDog123
No! That 15,000% A MONTH. That's the unofficial inflation estimate. In truth, no one knows what the real rate is there.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

25 posted on 11/27/2007 6:33:41 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: WoofDog123

“...works out to like 50% a DAY!”

And from what I was reading somewhere, the lines are 4 to 6 hours long for bread (if they don’t run out).


26 posted on 11/27/2007 6:34:42 PM PST by geopyg (Don't wish for peace, pray for Victory.)
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To: geopyg
Most people cannot buy anything. Its a country starving to death. Its a social experiment on a scale unseen in history. There's no precedent for what's happening in Zimbabwe.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

27 posted on 11/27/2007 6:36:06 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: goldstategop
Image hosted by Photobucket.com africawinsagain...
28 posted on 11/27/2007 6:38:11 PM PST by Chode (American Hedonist)
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To: goldstategop
"Other reports suggest the rate could be at near 15,000% and the International Monetary Fund had warned it could reach 100,000% by the end of the year."

Total economic collapse. Economic activity will soon be based on who has the biggest round rocks to trade with. You know, the giant stones carved like discs with the hole in the middle.

29 posted on 11/27/2007 6:39:09 PM PST by StormEye
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To: StormEye
Yep. The only way to survive is to barter. That's the only way to even carry on the bare semblance of a society. I wouldn't call it living.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

30 posted on 11/27/2007 6:40:42 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: goldstategop
Image hosted by Photobucket.com Last month, the central bank offered loans, known as Bacossis, to businesses at 25% interest to restore supplies to shops, AP news agency reports.

so now they not only want the stores to sell below cost... they want them to take out a LOAN to sell at below cost???

sounds like klintoon economics.

31 posted on 11/27/2007 6:41:39 PM PST by Chode (American Hedonist)
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To: Chode

Hey, at least that racist Ian Smith is dead. </s>


32 posted on 11/27/2007 6:44:04 PM PST by Comparative Advantage
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To: goldstategop

Can you buy ZIM money here in the States? I imagine some entrepreneur could sell sets of ZIM currency as a kind of sad collectors item. Hm. Maybe I’ll do that.


33 posted on 11/27/2007 6:51:27 PM PST by Theo (Global warming "scientists." Pro-evolution "scientists." They're both wrong.)
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To: goldstategop

This is not normal inflation, this is a collapsing currency and an economy shifting to the barter system.

The end will come when the govt is out of resources and is unable to keep their soldiers fed.


34 posted on 11/27/2007 6:53:27 PM PST by Free Vulcan (No prisoners. No mercy.)
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To: goldstategop

If there was any justice in the world, Mugabe would be the lead target of every human rights group in the world.

Which of course will happen well after the pigs start flying.


35 posted on 11/27/2007 6:53:57 PM PST by Steelerfan
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To: goldstategop

If, in some fantasy world, an honest election was held voting on whether to restore the name of the country to Rhodesia, return property to the former owners and return the political system back to what it was before the revolution...

what would happen?

Not that many of the people who have lost everything they had would come back anyhow, but it would be interesting.


36 posted on 11/27/2007 7:00:01 PM PST by Ronin (Bushed out!!! Another tragic victim of BDS.)
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To: goldstategop

That level inflation means only gold, guns and gas buy anything else.


37 posted on 11/27/2007 7:32:13 PM PST by tbw2 (Science fiction with real science - "Humanity's Edge" - on amazon.com)
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To: Free Vulcan

That level inflation means only gold, guns and gas buy anything else.


38 posted on 11/27/2007 7:37:36 PM PST by tbw2 (Science fiction with real science - "Humanity's Edge" - on amazon.com)
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To: dynachrome
Printed on only one side to save money.

I actually have some Hong Kong 1¢ notes like that.

Better idea? Print them on TP. They'll always have some value...

39 posted on 11/27/2007 7:37:52 PM PST by null and void (No more Bushes/No more Clintons)
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To: null and void

Funny. But if you get paid for one day, you already have a year’s supply of toilet paper.
Or is it worth more as fuel for the cook fire?
Print it on edible paper instead ...


40 posted on 11/27/2007 7:38:58 PM PST by tbw2 (Science fiction with real science - "Humanity's Edge" - on amazon.com)
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