August 18, 2026
The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) reported that as of July 2026, the point-to-point inflation rate was +7.5%, rising from the +6.7% rate recorded for the period June 2025 to June 2026. Compared to June 2026, the All Jamaica Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 1.2% in July 2026, moving to 152.7 from 150.9.
The All Jamaica CPI increased by 1.2% in July 2026, largely reflecting a 6.3% rise in the ‘Transport’ division, driven primarily by the second phase of increases in route taxi and hackney carriage fares, effective July 1, 2026. Also contributing was a 0.6% increase in the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division, primarily as a result of a 2.3% increase in the ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’ class, attributable to higher prices for Irish potatoes, pumpkin, carrots and cabbage. The ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division rose by 0.9%, driven mainly by higher electricity, water and sewage rates.
The All Jamaica point-to-point inflation rate for the period July 2025 to July 2026 was 7.5%. The divisions contributing most to this outturn were ‘Transport’ (+13.6%), ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ (+9.4%), and ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ (+5.2%).
Within the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division, the largest impact came from a 27.1% increase in the ‘Fruits and Nuts’ class, reflecting higher prices for ripe bananas, oranges, watermelon and dried coconut. There was also a 13.8% rise in the ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’ class, driven mainly by higher prices for yellow yam, cabbage, plantains and green bananas. Additional upward pressure came from the ‘Fish and Seafood’ and ‘Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals’ classes, which rose by 12.9% and 6.5%, respectively.
In the ‘Transport’ division, the 13.6% point-to-point increase was primarily attributable to a 16.0% rise in route taxi and hackney carriage fares, which took effect fully on July 1, 2026 and drove a 15.4% increase in the ‘Passenger Transport by Road’ class. Additionally, the ‘Fuels and Lubricants for Personal Transport Equipment’ class rose by 17.8%, reflecting higher petrol prices.
The 5.2% increase in the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division was mainly attributable to a 5.0% rise in the ‘Imputed Rentals for Housing’ group, driven by higher household rental costs, alongside a 6.2% increase in the ‘Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ group on account of higher electricity rates.
MAJOR CPI DIVISION MOVEMENTS
The ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division rose by 0.6%, with the ‘Food’ group increasing by 0.6% and the ‘Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ group rising by 0.7%. Within the ‘Food’ group, the sharpest movement was a 2.3% rise in ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’, driven by higher prices for Irish potatoes, pumpkin, carrots and cabbage. Other classes contributing to the increase were ‘Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c.’ (+1.0%), ‘Fish and Seafood’ (+0.8%), ‘Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals’ (+0.8%) and ‘Cereals and cereal products’ (+0.6%). The only class to record a decline was ‘Fruits and Nuts’ (-4.4%), reflecting lower prices for ripe bananas, pineapples and watermelons. All classes within the ‘Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ group registered increases, led by ‘Water, Soft Drinks and Other Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ (+1.1%), followed by ‘Fruit and Vegetable Juices’ (+0.7%) and ‘Coffee, Tea and Cocoa’ (+0.6%).
Point-to-point inflation rate: 9.4%
The index for ‘Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics’ rose by 0.7%, driven primarily by a 1.0% increase in the ‘Alcoholic Beverages’ group. All classes within that group recorded increases, with ‘Wine’ registering the largest movement at 1.9%, followed by ‘Spirits and Liquors’ (+1.5%) and ‘Beer’ (+0.8%).
Point-to-point inflation rate: 6.5%
The index for ‘Clothing and Footwear’ increased by 0.3%. The main contributor was a 0.3% rise in the ‘Clothing’ group, while the ‘Footwear’ group moved up by 0.1%.
Point-to-point inflation rate: 3.0%
The index for ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ recorded a 0.9% increase, driven mainly by a 2.2% rise in the ‘Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ group on account of higher electricity rates. Additionally, the ‘Water Supply and Miscellaneous Services Relating to the Dwelling’ group rose by 1.3%, reflecting higher water and sewage rates.
Point-to-point inflation rate: 5.2%
The index for ‘Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance’ rose by 1.5%, chiefly attributable to a 1.9% increase in ‘Goods and Services for Routine Household Maintenance’, which was driven primarily by the approximately 6.3% increase in the National Minimum Wage effective July 1, 2026. All other groups in the division also registered increases, namely ‘Furniture, Furnishings and Loose Carpets’ (+0.4%), ‘Tools and Equipment for House and Garden’ (+0.3%), ‘Household Textiles’ (+0.2%) and ‘Household Appliances’ (+0.1%).
Point-to-point inflation rate: 3.3%
The ‘Health’ division increased by 0.2%, driven mainly by a 0.3% rise in ‘Medicines and Health Products’ due to higher prices for some over-the-counter painkillers. The ‘Outpatient Care Services’ group rose by 0.2%, reflecting increased fees charged by some dentists.
Point-to-point inflation rate: 3.7%
The ‘Transport’ division recorded a 6.3% increase, primarily attributable to an 8.7% rise in the ‘Passenger Transport by Road’ class, resulting from the implementation of the second phase of increases in route taxi and hackney carriage fares effective July 1, 2026. The ‘Fuels and Lubricants for Personal Transport Equipment’ class also rose by 3.5% due to higher petrol prices.
Point-to-point inflation rate: 13.6%
The ‘Recreation, Sport and Culture’ division increased by 0.7%, mainly due to a 0.8% rise in ‘Newspapers, Books and Stationery’ as a result of increased prices for textbooks and stationery items.
Point-to-point inflation rate: 3.8%
The ‘Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services’ division increased by 0.6%, driven by higher prices for personal care services including manicures, crème (relax)/chemical processing, wigs and hair extensions, and haircuts for males.
Point-to-point inflation rate: 4.5%
Individual Divisional Monthly Changes — July 2026
- Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages: (+0.6%)
- Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics: (+0.7%)
- Clothing and Footwear: (+0.3%)
- Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels: (+0.9%)
- Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance: (+1.5%)
- Health: (+0.2%)
- Transport: (+6.3%)
- Recreation, Sport and Culture: (+0.7%)
- Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services: (+0.6%)
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