Zimbabwe CPI inflation quickens to 4.9 pct y/y

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's headline consumer inflation rate quickened to 4.9 percent year-on-year in December, higher than government's year-end target for 2011. The National Statistical Agency said on Monday inflation quickened from 4.2 percent year-on-year in November while it slowed to 0.2 percent month-on-month compared with 0.5 percent in November. Higher food and beverage prices as well as communication and utility charges drove year-on-year inflation higher, the statistical agency's figures showed. Finance Minister Tendai Biti had projected inflation would end the year at 4. ...