Month-on-month inflation also rose to 240.1 per cent in December from 131.4 per cent in November.

The CSO said inflation on food and non-alcoholic beverages was at  79,412.0 per cent in December, while non-food inflation was 58,492.9  per cent.

Government failure

The rise is another sign that a government-ordered price freeze in June has failed to halt runaway price increases.

Zimbabwe's economy has been declining for the past eight years reflected by increasing inflation and shortages of basic foods and supplies, such as sugar and cooking oil.
  
At least 80 per cent of the population live below the poverty line, often skipping meals to stretch their income, which frequently fails to cover basic needs.
  
The government has introduced several measures to decrease inflation, such as imposing a ceiling on prices of some goods and services and taking three zeros from the country's currency.