Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Sudan'¯Businesses'¯Feel Pinch as Currency Devalues,'¯Inflation Soars Naba Mohiedeen KHARTOUM - Sudan this month'¯declared an economic emergency'¯after the Sudanese pound lost 40'¯percent'¯of its value in one month and annual '¯inflation jumped to 167 percent.'¯Sudan's transitional authorities have struggled to stabilize the currency,'¯the weakness of which helped fuel the protests against former president'¯Omar al-Bashir.'¯The economic strain has hit traders in the Sajana Market, one of Sudan's largest. '¯Sudan declared an economic'¯emergency'¯this'¯month as the Sudanese pound plunged in value and inflation soared.'¯'¯'¯ The pound, which traded at 135 to the U.S. dollar in August, dropped to 250 per U.S. dollar.'¯'¯ The economic strain has hit traders in'¯Khartoum's'¯Sajana Market,'¯where many businesses sell imported goods.'¯'¯ Most of the market has stopped purchasing fresh inventory as prices soared and goods are overstocked in shops and factories. .