September 16, 2026

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) reported that as of August 2026, the point-to-point inflation rate was +7.9%, rising from the +7.5% rate recorded for the period July 2025 to July 2026. Compared to July 2026, the All Jamaica Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.6% in August 2026, moving to 153.6 from 152.7.

The All Jamaica CPI increased by 0.6% in August 2026, largely reflecting a 1.5% rise in the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division, driven primarily by higher prices for a range of agricultural produce, including Irish potato, sweet potato, cabbage, tomato and pumpkin. Also contributing was a 0.7% increase in the ‘Transport’ division, on account of higher petrol prices and toll rates. These increases were partially offset by a 0.7% decline in the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division, resulting from lower electricity rates.

The All Jamaica point-to-point inflation rate for the period August 2025 to August 2026 was 7.9%. The divisions contributing most to this outturn were ‘Transport’ (+14.6%), ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ (+10.2%), and ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ (+4.8%).

Within the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division, the largest impact came from a 25.0% increase in the ‘Fruits and Nuts’ class, reflecting higher prices for ripe banana, orange and dried coconut. There was also an 18.1% rise in the ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’ class, driven mainly by higher prices for yellow yam, cabbage, plantain, green banana and tomato. Additional upward pressure came from the ‘Fish and Seafood’ and ‘Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals’ classes, which rose by 13.5% and 6.3%, respectively.

In the ‘Transport’ division, the 14.6% point-to-point increase was primarily attributable to a 15.4% rise in the ‘Passenger Transport by Road’ class, influenced by the July 2026 route taxi and hackney carriage fare adjustment, as the twelve-month measure includes price changes accumulated over the period. Additionally, the ‘Fuels and Lubricants for Personal Transport Equipment’ class rose by 23.5%, reflecting higher petrol prices.

The 4.8% 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 4.8% 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 1.5%, with the ‘Food’ group increasing by 1.6% and the ‘Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ group rising by 0.5%. Within the ‘Food’ group, the sharpest movement was a 4.7% rise in ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’, attributable to higher prices for several agricultural products. All other classes in the group also increased, notably ‘Fruits and Nuts’ (+1.8%), ‘Fish and Seafood’ (+0.9%) and ‘Cereals and cereal products’ (+0.6%). The increase in the ‘Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ group was mainly driven by a 0.8% rise in ‘Coffee, Tea and Cocoa’ and a 0.6% increase in ‘Fruit and Vegetable Juices’.

Point-to-point inflation rate: 10.2%

The index for ‘Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics’ rose by 0.3%, resulting from a 0.4% increase in the ‘Alcoholic Beverages’ group. All classes within that group recorded increases, led by ‘Spirits and Liquors’ (+1.2%), followed by ‘Wine’ (+1.0%) and ‘Beer’ (+0.2%).

Point-to-point inflation rate: 6.7%

The index for ‘Clothing and Footwear’ increased by 0.2%. The main contributor was a 0.3% rise in the ‘Clothing’ group, driven by higher prices for clothing materials and school uniforms, while the ‘Footwear’ group moved up by 0.1% due mainly to increased prices for children’s shoes.

Point-to-point inflation rate: 2.9%

The index for ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ recorded a 0.7% decline — the only division to fall in August 2026 — attributed to lower electricity rates, which led to a 2.6% fall in the ‘Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ group. Tempering the decline was a 0.8% rise in the ‘Water Supply and Miscellaneous Services Relating to the Dwelling’ group, resulting from higher water and sewage rates.

Point-to-point inflation rate: 4.8%

The index for ‘Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance’ rose by 0.2%, primarily due to a similar increase in ‘Goods and Services for Routine Household Maintenance’, driven by higher prices for some household cleaning products. Other groups in the division also registered increases, namely ‘Tools and Equipment for House and Garden’ (+0.2%), ‘Furniture, Furnishings and Loose Carpets’ (+0.1%) and ‘Household Textiles’ (+0.1%).

Point-to-point inflation rate: 3.4%

The ‘Health’ division increased by 0.4%, driven mainly by a 0.3% rise in ‘Medicines and Health Products’, influenced primarily by higher prices for some prescription and over-the-counter medications. The ‘Outpatient Care Services’ group rose by 0.8%, reflecting higher fees charged by some general practitioners.

Point-to-point inflation rate: 3.9%

The ‘Transport’ division recorded a 0.7% increase, influenced mainly by a 3.5% rise in the ‘Fuels and Lubricants for Personal Transport Equipment’ class due to higher petrol prices. Additionally, the ‘Other Services in Respect of Personal Transport Equipment’ class went up by 2.3%, chiefly due to increased toll rates.

Point-to-point inflation rate: 14.6%

The ‘Recreation, Sport and Culture’ division increased by 0.3%, largely attributable to a 0.3% rise in ‘Newspapers, Books and Stationery’ as a result of increased prices for textbooks and stationery.

Point-to-point inflation rate: 3.2%

The ‘Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services’ division increased by 0.3%, largely attributable to a 0.3% rise in the ‘Personal Care’ group, driven mainly by increases in the cost of personal care services, particularly manicures and hair chemical processing services. The ‘Social Protection’ group rose by 1.1%, driven mainly by higher daycare fees.

Point-to-point inflation rate: 4.5%

Individual Divisional Monthly Changes — August 2026

• Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages: (+1.5%)
• Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics: (+0.3%)
• Clothing and Footwear: (+0.2%)
• Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels: (-0.7%)
• Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance: (+0.2%)
• Health: (+0.4%)
• Transport: (+0.7%)
• Recreation, Sport and Culture: (+0.3%)
• Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services: (+0.3%)