The currency of Tanzania is the Tanzanian Shilling Tsh. At the time of writing (March 1998) the exchange rate was approximately 1000 Tsh to the pound (sterling).

To give some idea of the value of the currency in real terms, prices of commodities in Mvumi are listed before a drought (February 1997) and during the drought (June) in 1997.

These prices show graphically the effect of drought on the local economy. The staple diet of the Wagogo is maize and the drought in 1997, which caused widespread crop failure, drove up the price of maize to some 150% of the normal price. A debe of maize would be expected to feed a family of five for about one week. In June, when the harvest would normally have been expected, some families in Mvumi Division were eating only once in every three days. Drought and famine also affected the price of meat as farmers slaughtered livestock which could not be sustained through the coming dry season driving prices to only half of those before the drought. Charcoal, which is a widely used fuel for cooking, also halved in price during this period due to increased numbers of people producing charcoal to provide money to buy food or to pay for health care.