Bahrain Inflation Holds Steady at 2.3%

Bahrain’s annual inflation rate stood at 2.3% in June 2026, unchanged from the previous month and remaining at its highest level since May 2024. Prices increased at a faster pace for food and non-alcoholic beverages (5.8% vs 5.7% in May) and transport (10.6% vs 10.4%), while costs for education remained steady at 2.8%. Additionally, deflation eased for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (-0.6% vs -1.3%), clothing and footwear (-12.6% vs -12.7%), and furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance (-1.2% vs -1.3%). In contrast, inflation slowed for miscellaneous goods and services (3.3% vs 3.4%), while prices declined for restaurants and hotels (-0.3% vs 0.2%), communication (-0.3% vs -0.2%), and recreation and culture (-0.6% vs 0.3%). Prices remained unchanged for housing and utilities (-2.2%) and health (-0.2%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.9% in June from 0.4% in May.

Bahrain’s annual inflation rate rose to 2.3% in May 2026 from 1.4% in the previous month, marking the highest level since May 2024. The acceleration was driven by a rebound in prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages (5.7% vs -0.1% in April) and restaurants and hotels (0.2% vs -0.3%), while inflation continued to increase in transport (10.4% vs 10.0%) and education (2.8%, unchanged). Additionally, deflation eased in clothing and footwear (-12.7% vs -14.0%), communication (-0.2% vs -0.8%), and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (-1.3% vs -2.2%). Meanwhile, inflation slowed in recreation and culture (0.3% vs 3.4%) and miscellaneous goods and services (3.4% vs 4.1%), while prices fell further for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (-1.3% vs -0.2%), housing and utilities (-2.2% vs -2.1%), and health (-0.2% vs -0.1%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.4% in May after a flat reading in April.

Bahrain’s annual inflation rose to 1.4% in April 2026 from 1.1% in the previous month. This marked the highest level since June 2024, as prices increased faster in transport (10.0% vs 8.7% in March), along with a sharp rebound in recreation and culture costs (3.4% vs -18.0%). At the same time, deflation eased in alcoholic beverages and tobacco (-0.2% vs -1.3%), health (-0.1% vs -0.3%), communication (-0.8% vs -1.3%), and restaurants and hotels (-0.3% vs -0.4%). Meanwhile, prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages declined (-0.1% vs 2.8%), while deflation persisted in clothing and footwear (-14.0% vs -10.1%), housing and utilities (-2.1% vs -2.0%), and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (steady at -2.2%). Price growth also slowed in miscellaneous goods and services (4.1% vs 5.0%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices were unchanged in April, following a 0.4% increase in March.