Latest update: 7 November 2008
by
Steve H. Hanke*
Professor of Applied Economics
The Johns Hopkins University
and
Senior Fellow
The Cato Institute
Zimbabwe is the first country in the 21st century to hyperinflate. In February 2007, Zimbabwe’s inflation rate topped 50% per month, the minimum rate required to qualify as a hyperinflation (50% per month is equal to a 12,875% per year). Since then, inflation has soared.
The last official inflation data were released for July and are hopelessly outdated. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has been even less forthcoming with money supply data: the most recent money supply figures are ancient history—January 2008.
Absent current official money supply and inflation data, it is difficult to quantify the depth and breadth of the still-growing crisis in Zimbabwe. To overcome this problem, Cato Senior Fellow Steve Hanke has developed the Hanke Hyperinflation Index for Zimbabwe (HHIZ). This new metric is derived from market-based price data and is presented in the accompanying table for the January 2007 to present period. As of 7 November 2008, Zimbabwe’s annual inflation rate was 516 Quintillion (1018) percent.
The HHIZ will be updated weekly and available on the Cato Institute’s web site. www.cato.org/zimbabwe
*Steve H. Hanke is one of the world’s leading experts on exchange-rate regimes. He has played a prominent role in designing and implementing monetary reforms that have stopped very high or hyperinflations in eight countries.
| Hanke Hyperinflation Index for Zimbabwe (HHIZ) | |||
| Date | Index | Monthly Inflation Rate | Annual Inflation Rate |
| 5-Jan-07 | 1.00 | 13.60% | |
| 2-Feb-07 | 1.78 | 77.60% | |
| 2-Mar-07 | 3.14 | 76.60% | |
| 5-Apr-07 | 6.90 | 56.20% | |
| 4-May-07 | 6.75 | -2.13% | |
| 1-Jun-07 | 20.70 | 207.00% | |
| 6-Jul-07 | 53.00 | 60.30% | |
| 3-Aug-07 | 49.10 | -7.25% | |
| 7-Sep-07 | 82.50 | 70.60% | |
| 5-Oct-07 | 219.00 | 165.00% | |
| 2-Nov-07 | 642.00 | 193.00% | |
| 28-Dec-07 | 2,010.00 | 61.50% | 215,000% |
| 25-Jan-08 | 2,250.00 | 11.80% | |
| 29-Feb-08 | 8,260.00 | 259.00% | |
| 28-Mar-08 | 17,700.00 | 114.00% | |
| 25-Apr-08 | 57,100.00 | 222.00% | |
| 30-May-08 | 442,000.00 | 497.00% | |
| 26-Jun-08 | 23,700,000.00 | 5,260.00% | 41,400,000% |
| 4-Jul-08 | 49,300,000.00 | 3,740.00% | 93,000,000% |
| 11-Jul-08 | 81,800,000.00 | 2,080.00% | 167,000,000% |
| 18-Jul-08 | 122,000,000.00 | 1,030.00% | 250,000,000% |
| 25-Jul-08 | 157,000,000.00 | 566.00% | 317,000,000% |
| 29-Aug-08 | 6,340,000,000.00 | 3,190.00% | 9,700,000,000% |
| 26-Sep-08 | 796,000,000,000.00 | 12,500.00% | 472,000,000,000% |
| 3-Oct-08 | 3,590,000,000,000.00 | 15,400.00% | 1,640,000,000,000% |
| 10-Oct-08 | 32,400,000,000,000.00 | 46,000.00% | 11,600,000,000,000% |
| 17-Oct-08 | 1,070,000,000,000,000.00 | 490,000.00% | 299,000,000,000,000% |
| 24-Oct-08 | 120,000,000,000,000,000.00 | 15,100,000.00% | 25,300,000,000,000,000% |
| 31-Oct-08 | 22,600,000,000,000,000,000.00 | 630,000,000.00% | 3,520,000,000,000,000,000% |
| 7-Nov-08 | 4,260,000,000,000,000,000,000.00 | 13,200,000,000.00% | 516,000,000,000,000,000,000% |
Sources: Imara Asset Management Zimbabwe and author’s calculations.
A Note on Zimbabwe’s Official Inflation Rate
Notes:
1. Numbers are reported with three significant figures.
2. The HHIZ is reported on the last trading day of the week.
3. The monthly inflation rate is HHIZ(t)/HHIZ(t-4) - 1 and the annual inflation rate is HHIZ(t)/HHIZ(t-52) - 1.
4. The HHIZ values are numerical estimates. In consequence, they are subject to revision when new price data are incorporated into the estimates.
5. Prof. Hanke would like to thank Alex Kwok for his research assistance on this project.
6. Prof. Hanke can be reached at his Johns Hopkins University office: (410) 516-7183 or hanke@jhu.edu
"Zimbabwe: From Hyperinflation to Growth," by Steve H. Hanke, Development Policy Analysis no. 6, June 25, 2008.
"A Decade of Suffering in Zimbabwe: Economic Collapse and Political Repression under Robert Mugabe," by David Coltart, Development Policy Analysis no. 5, March 24, 2008.
"The Loss of Property Rights and the Collapse of Zimbabwe," by Craig J. Richardson, Cato Journal Vol. 25 No. 3, Fall 2005.
"How to Kill Zimbabwe's Hyperinflation," by Steve H Hanke, Global Dialogue, August 2008.
"Botswana and Zimbabwe: A Tale of Two Countries," by Marian L. Tupy, The American, May 14, 2008.
"Mugabe Is the Mobutu of Our Time," by Marian L. Tupy, Spectator, March 18, 2008.
"How the Loss of Property Rights Caused Zimbabwe's Collapse," by Craig Richardson, Economic Development Bulletin no. 4, November 14, 2005.
"Hyperinflation: Mugabe Versus Milosevic," by Steve H. Hanke, Globe Asia, August 2008.
"Kill Central Bank to Fix Inflation in Zimbabwe," by Steve H. Hanke, The Times, July 13, 2008.
"The Aid Africa Can't Afford," by Edward N. Luttwak and Marian L. Tupy, Los Angeles Times, July 8, 2008.
"The Spiral of Zimbabwe," by Marian L. Tupy, New York Sun, June 23, 2008.
"Mugabe's Best Friend," by Marian L. Tupy, Forbes.com, April 10, 2007.
"The Long Fall of Robert G. Mugabe," by Marian L. Tupy, The New Republic (Online), March 28, 2008.
"Peace Won't Come to Zimbabwe," by Marian L. Tupy and David Coltart, The Wall Street Journal, March 14, 2008.
"New Hope for Zimbabwe," by Tom Woods, Roger Bate and Marian L. Tupy, Washington Times, February 6, 2008.
"Free Banking for Zimbabwe," by Steve H. Hanke, Globe Asia, December 2007.
"Mugabe's Apologists," by Marian L. Tupy, Wall Street Journal Europe, December 11, 2007.
"Hyperinflation," by Steve H. Hanke, Forbes, May 17, 2007.
"The World’s Greatest Unreported Hyperinflation," by Steve H. Hanke, Globe Asia, May 2007.
"A Four-Step Recovery Plan for Zimbabwe," by Marian L. Tupy, American.com, April 17, 2007.
"Bureaucratic Heart of Darkness," by Marian L. Tupy, Washington Times, April 16, 2006.
"Mugabe Should Heed the Warnings of Hayek," by Marian L. Tupy, Financial Times, July 27, 2005.
"Power Sharing in Zimbabwe" featuring Marian L. Tupy, September 17, 2008 [Flash Audio, 06:27]
"Poverty and Economy in Mugabe's Zimbabwe" featuring Rejoice Ngwenya, August 14, 2008 [Flash Audio, 06:51]
"How Inflation Robs Zimbabwe" featuring Rejoice Ngwenya, July 29, 2008 [Flash Audio, 08:18]
"Mugabe's Power Grab in Overtime" featuring Marian L. Tupy, April 4, 2008 [Flash Audio, 08:02]
"Elections in Zimbabwe" featuring Marian L. Tupy, March 31, 2008 [Flash Audio, 06:18]
"Disastrous Health Situation in Zimbabwe" featuring Richard Tren, March 25, 2008 [Flash Audio, 08:45]
Marian L. Tupy discusses the Zimbabwe elections on BBC World News July 18, 2008 [Flash Video, 04:53]
Marian L. Tupy on Gallup discussing Zimbabweans' desire for change April 1, 2008 [Real Media, 03:02]
Marian Tupy on BBC World talking about Zimbabwe's elections March 28, 2008 [Flash Video, 05:04]
Marian Tupy on CNN International discussing Zimbabwe's elections March 28, 2008 [Flash Video, 05:22]
"Escaping Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa," July 28, 2008 [Capitol Hill Briefing]
"Economic Collapse and Political Repression in Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe," March 24, 2008 [Policy Forum]
"The Collapse of Zimbabwe in the Wake of the 2000-2003 Land Reforms," March 28, 2005 [Book Forum]
"Battle For Zimbabwe: The Final Countdown," Wednesday, June 30, 2004 [Book Forum]
Cato on Facebook
Cato on Twitter
Cato RSS