Inflation will remain a key issue from now until yearend. Food & foodstuff prices have been on an upward trend since the beginning of the year, but spiked in July on tight pork supplies. Scarce access to financing early this year meant that pig farmers had to cut their production which reduced the numbers of hogs slaughtered six months later. In August, pork prices seem to have softened somewhat compared to July but remain high compared to a year ago.