Following a number of successful monetary policies in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the situation became gradually more stable, with one digit inflation in 2005.

On the day of the coup, it was on the verge of collapse, with three digit inflation.

However in 2007 inflation hit 8%, the first time in 30 years that Zambia had seen single digit inflation.

Anti-military backlash from the country's continued involvement in the Vietnam War, combined with double digit inflation, caused enrollment to plummet.

It said that in 19 of these countries, the rate was higher for the second successive year and that 12 reported double- digit inflation.

The double digit inflation of the 1970s was brought under control.

The triple digit inflation of 1996 and 1997 has given way to an official economic growth, but forecasters are predicting accelerated growth over the next several years.

Inflation has fallen slightly this year to 15.8%, but it is the fourth successive year that has seen double digit inflation.

The double digit inflation and growing trade deficit were the government's most difficult economic problems.

The Matador was no longer attractive as automakers struggled to overcome economic woes including continuing fuel price increases and double digit domestic inflation.