Zimbabwe's annual inflation hit a record 231 million per cent in July, piling pressure on the ruling party and opposition to break a deadlock in negotiations and form a cabinet that can rescue the ruined economy.
President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party and the opposition MDC again held more unsuccessful talks to end stalled power sharing negotiations yesterday, frustrating Zimbabweans who hoped new leadership would bring relief from hardship.
Many Zimbabweans have resorted to bartering goods and rely on help from relatives abroad, mostly in South Africa, for supplies of scant basic foodstuffs like maize, sugar and cooking oil.
A loaf of bread which cost Z$500 when the central bank redenominated the Zimbabwe dollar on August 1st, now sells for at least Z$7,000.
Central Statistical Office data showed that on a monthly basis, prices shot up by 2,600.2 per cent compared with 839.3 per cent in June, largely driven by high prices of bread and cereals.
The yearly inflation figure was 11.2 million per cent in June, official figures showed today.
An outline agreement signed on September 15th has stalled over key cabinet posts, angering Zimbabweans who have had to endure the world's fastest price rises, shortages of food, foreign currency and crumbling infrastructure. Both sides accuse each other of jeopardising the process.