Jamaica’s inflation rate increased by 1.5% in May 2026

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) reported that as of May 2026, the point-to-point inflation rate was +5.4%, rising from the +4.3% rate recorded for the period April 2025 to April 2026. Compared to April 2026, the All Jamaica Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 1.5% in May 2026.

The All Jamaica CPI increased by 1.5% in May 2026, largely reflecting a 1.9% rise in the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division. This outturn was primarily driven by higher prices for certain agricultural produce, including tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, ripe bananas, and pineapple, which led to a 4.8% increase in the ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’ class and a 4.7% rise in the ‘Fruits and Nuts’ class. Also contributing was a 5.7% increase in the ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ division, driven by higher prices for meals consumed away from home. The ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division rose by 0.7%, influenced largely by higher electricity rates.

The All Jamaica point-to-point inflation rate for the period May 2025 to May 2026 was 5.4%. The divisions contributing most to this outturn were ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ (+8.7%), ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ (+6.9%), and ‘Transport’ (+3.1%).

Within the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division, the largest impact came from a 34.3% increase in the ‘Fruits and Nuts’ class, reflecting higher prices for ripe bananas, oranges, watermelon and dried coconut. There was also a 10.4% rise in the ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’ class, driven mainly by higher prices for yellow yam, cabbage, tomatoes, ripe plantains, and green bananas.

In the ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ division, the 6.9% increase was primarily driven by a 7.0% rise in the ‘Food and Beverage Serving Services’ group, reflecting higher costs for meals consumed away from home, alongside a 3.2% increase in the ‘Accommodation Services’ group.

The 3.1% increase in the ‘Transport’ division was mainly attributable to a 12.2% rise in the ‘Operation of Personal Transport Equipment’ group, driven by a 15.4% increase in the ‘Fuels and Lubricants for Personal Transport Equipment’ class, resulting from higher petrol prices.

The ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division rose by 1.9%, with both the ‘Food’ and ‘Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ groups each recording a 1.9% increase. Within the ‘Food’ group, the sharpest movement was a 4.8% rise in ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’, followed by a 4.7% increase in ‘Fruits and Nuts’. Higher prices were recorded across most classes, except for ‘Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c.’ (-0.2%), which declined due to lower escallion prices. The ‘Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ group was driven upward by ‘Water, Soft Drinks and Other Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ (+2.8%) and ‘Fruit and Vegetable Juices’ (+2.0%), reflecting higher prices for bag drinks, energy drinks and soft drinks.

The index for ‘Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics’ rose by 1.5%, driven primarily by a 3.2% increase in the ‘Tobacco’ group. The ‘Alcoholic Beverages’ group also rose by 0.8%.

The index for ‘Clothing and Footwear’ increased by 0.4%. The main contributor was a 0.6% rise in the ‘Footwear’ group, while the ‘Clothing’ group moved up by 0.2%.

The index for ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ recorded a 0.7% increase, primarily due to higher electricity rates, which resulted in a 2.9% rise in ‘Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’. This was partially offset by a 1.8% fall in ‘Water Supply and Miscellaneous Services Relating to the Dwelling’, reflecting lower water supply and sewage rates.

The index for ‘Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance’ rose by 0.3%, chiefly attributable to a 0.3% increase in ‘Goods and Services for Routine Household Maintenance’, driven by higher prices for household cleaning products such as laundry soaps, detergents and garbage bags. All other groups in the division also registered increases.

The ‘Health’ division increased by 0.5%, driven mainly by a 0.4% rise in ‘Medicines and Health Products’ due to higher prices for some prescription drugs. The ‘Outpatient Care Services’ group rose by 1.0%, reflecting increased general practitioners’ fees.

The ‘Transport’ division recorded a 0.9% increase, largely influenced by a 3.1% rise in the ‘Operation of Personal Transport Equipment’ group, driven by higher petrol prices.

The ‘Recreation, Sport and Culture’ division increased by 0.3%, mainly due to a 0.4% rise in ‘Newspapers, Books and Stationery’ as a result of increased prices for stationery items.

The ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ division rose by 5.7%, driven primarily by higher prices for meals consumed away from home.

The ‘Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services’ division increased by 0.5%, driven by higher prices for personal care products and services including deodorants, diapers, toothbrushes and haircuts for males.

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