Botswana Inflation Rate Quickens to Over 1-1/2-Year High

The annual inflation rate rose for the second month to 4.1% in January 2026, the highest since June 2023, from 3.9% in the prior month. The main upward pressure came from prices of alcoholic beverages (9.7% vs 9.7% in December); miscellaneous goods & services (9.3% vs 9%); food & non-alcoholic beverages (6.1% vs 5.4%); transportation (6% vs 6.2%) and furnishings & household equipment (4.9% vs 4.5%).On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 0.6%, after a 0.2% increase in the previous month.

Botswana's annual inflation rate edged up to 3.9% in December 2025 from 3.8% in the previous month. Prices increased at a faster pace for transport (6.2% vs 5.6%), clothing and footwear (4.2% vs 4%), furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance (4.5% vs 4.2%), health (2.9% vs 2.3%), and miscellaneous goods and services (9% vs 8.8%). In addition, deflation slightly softened for housing and utilities (-2.9% vs -3%). On the other hand, prices moderated for food and non-alcoholic beverages (5.5% vs 5.4%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (9.7% vs 10%), and restaurants and hotels (2.6% vs 2.8%). Prices were stable for recreation and culture (0.6%) and education (2.6%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.2%, following a flat reading in November. For the whole of 2025, the average inflation rate edged lower to 2.7% from 2.8% in the previous year.

Botswana's annual inflation rate was at 3.8% in November 2025, just below a 13-month high of 3.9% in the prior month. Prices slowed down for some CPI categories, primarily transportation (5.6% vs 6.2% in October); recreation & culture (0.6% vs 1.3%) and health (2.3% vs 2.6%). At the same time, food price growth stood at 5.5%, matching October's reading; while prices continued to fall for housing & utilities (-3% vs -3.1%). On the other hand, notables increases were seen for alcoholic beverages & tobacco (10% vs 9.8%) and miscellaneous goods & services (8.8% vs 8.4%). On a monthly basis, the CPI was flat in November, after a 0.3% increase in the previous month.