Prices start to fall in Zimbabwe

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Prices in Zimbabwe have started to fall at last after years of galloping inflation, according to figures from the state Central Statistical Office (CSO).   The first official figures released since the country's adoption of the US dollar as its new official currency showed the price of goods fell by up to 3 percent in January and February this year.   The US dollar was adopted by Zimbabwe after the inauguration of the unity government between the MDC and President Mugabe's Zanu-PF. Once on a par with the British pound, the Zimbabwean dollar had become virtually worthless.   Revealing the latest official figures on Tuesday, Central Statistical Office head Moffat Nyoni said the items priced at an average of $100 (┬ú68) in January cost $97 (┬ú66) this month.   Finance Minister Tendai Biti last week projected inflation would fall to just 10 percent by the end of this year with the help of foreign currency to stabilise prices.   The Southern African Development Community will meet on Monday in Swaziland to consider a request by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for $2 billion (┬ú1.4 billion) in loans and aid. The unity government estimates it will need a total of $5 billion (┬ú3.4 billion) to rebuild Zimbabwe's shattered economy.   The IMF meanwhile said it would not give aid to Zimbabwe until it cleared its debts and implemented sound policy. The fund suspended Zimbabwe in June 2003 as President Robert Mugabe's government fell behind on debt repayments.   *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *