News
Inflation, the birr, wages and taxes, and what they mean for households in Ethiopia.
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· Capital Ethiopia
Households in Addis Ababa cut back on bread, flour and cooking oil as food prices rise. Official figures for September 2026 show annual inflation of 14.9%, with meat up 22% and oils up 18.2%. Traders at Shola Market report smaller purchases. The city trade bureau and bakers agree on a standard 70 gram loaf, but set no fixed price.
· Dawan Africa
The National Bank of Ethiopia keeps its policy rate at 16% after its eighth Monetary Policy Committee meeting. Inflation was 14.9% in September 2026, above the bank's goal of less than 10%. Non-food inflation rose to 15.1%, pushed by electricity tariffs and kerosene. The bank expects inflation to stay high for the next six months.
· TechAfrica News
Ethio Telecom reports revenue of ETB 215.82 billion for the 2025/26 fiscal year, up 33.2%, and 90.12 million customers. Its mobile money service telebirr has 60.6 million customers and 440,100 merchants. Fixed broadband passes 1 million subscriptions. 4G reaches 1,200 towns and 5G is in 33 cities. Nearly 32 million people registered for the digital ID through the company.
· Ethiopian Business Review
The National Bank of Ethiopia has ended its annual cap on bank credit growth and raised its policy rate from 15 to 16 percent. The governor says the move changes the method, not the tight stance. Banks get more room to lend, but a targeted reserve requirement and a higher rate could still limit home loans.
· The Reporter
A fuel shortage of more than three weeks turns commutes in Addis Ababa into long waits. At Megenagna, crowded minibuses charge 60 birr to Goro. Drivers queue for days or pay 500 to 600 birr per litre on the black market. The transport bureau gives public transport first access to fuel. The government says daily diesel supply returns to 9 million litres.
· Birr Metrics
A fuel shortage linked to shipping disruption around the Strait of Hormuz has slowed or stopped construction sites across Ethiopia. Official diesel prices rose about 16.6 percent in three weeks. Contractors report idle machines and halted projects, while cement neared 1,000 birr a quintal and steel and finishing materials rose more than 50 percent in a month.
· Capital Ethiopia
The Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration raises white diesel by 16.6% to 163.09 birr per litre from April 1, 2026. Gasoline rose to 142.41 birr in March. The fuel subsidy has reached nearly 272 billion birr, and the state still pays about 71 birr per litre of diesel. A task force gives priority supply to freight and public transport.
· The Reporter
The Ethiopian Electric Utility says household power is still sold at a loss, at about USD 0.005 per kWh, and defends its quarterly tariff increases. The increases started in September 2024 and continue until 2028 under the programme agreed with the IMF. Low-use households keep low rates. The utility plans to move all customers to prepaid meters.
· Xinhua
Addis Ababa received 699,761 foreign tourists in the first half of the 2025/26 Ethiopian fiscal year, 15% more than a year before, says Mayor Adanech Abiebie. The visitors brought 155 billion birr in revenue. The city also counted 4.9 million domestic tourists. Nearly 150 international and continental events took place in the six months, a rise of 50%.