Burundi’s inflation declines to 3.5 pct in October

BUJUMBURA (Reuters) - Burundi’s inflation fell to 3.5 percent in the year to October from 5.5 percent in September, thanks to lower costs of housing, water and energy, official data showed on Thursday. Price inflation for housing, water and energy eased sharply to 7.3 percent in the year to October from 12.4 percent in September, the Institute of Economic Studies and Statistics (ISTEEBU) said in its monthly report. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts Burundi’s economy to expand by 4.7 percent this year against 4.5 percent in 2013, but fears the macroeconomic stability could be undermined due to an uncertain situation ahead of 2015 general elections amid increasing social and political tensions.