Inflation hits Tongan poor

Tonga's high inflation rate of 12 per cent, is a stumbling block for economic recovery, and a major cause of misery for ordinary Tongans, and urgently needs to be reduced. Martin Cerisola, the leader of an International Monetary Fund delegation, winding-up their annual visit to Tonga on April 2, said that high inflation had the most adverse affect on low income earners. "It affects the poor the most, and I emphasised that inflation should be brought down to a sustainable level.