South Sudan inflation eases to 43.3 pct in August - Reuters Africa

(Fixes day in first paragraph)

JUBA, Sept 10 (Reuters) - South Sudan's annual inflation eased to 43.3 percent in August from 60.9 percent in July as food costs eased slightly, official data showed on Monday.

South Sudan seceded from Sudan in July 2011 under a 2005 peace agreement with its former civil war foe but has been struggling to tackle an economic crisis and contain tribal and rebel violence undermining development.

Inflation had been on the rise since landlocked South Sudan shut down its oil production in January to protest against seizures of its oil by Sudan through which it needs to export its crude.

Oil makes up 98 percent of state revenues in one of the world's least developed countries.

Month-on-month inflation was unchanged in August compared to July, the National Bureau of Statistics said in its monthly bulletin.

Costs for food and non-alcoholic beverages fell by 1.2 percent in August compared to July, the data showed. But the cost for housing and water rose by 30.7 percent in August.

Food makes up 71.39 percent of the inflation basket.

Some analysts have said actual inflation is higher than the official figures.   Continued...