Botswana Inflation Rate Rises to Near 3-Year High

The annual inflation rate in Botswana rose to 4.2% in March 2026 from 4% in February, marking the highest reading since June 2023. The main positive contributors were transportation (6.4% vs 6.3% in February); food & non-alcoholic beverages (5.8% vs 5.4%); miscellaneous goods & services (9.4% vs 9.2%) and alcoholic beverages & tobacco (9.9% vs 9.4%). In late March, the Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) announced a significant increase in the retail pump prices of petrol, diesel, and illuminating paraffin. On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 0.4% in March, after a 0.2% increase in the previous month.

The annual inflation rate edged down to 4% in February 2026 from 4.1% in January, which was the steepest since June 2023. Prices slowed down a bit for some CPI items, including food & non-alcoholic beverages (5.4% vs 6.1% in January); alcoholic beverages & tobacco (9.4% vs 9.7%); miscellaneous goods & services (9.2% vs 9.3%); clothing & footwear (4.1% vs 4.3%) and furnishings & household equipment (4.8% vs 4.9%). Moreover, prices continued to fall for housing & utilities (-2.7% vs -2.8%) and communications (-1.2% vs -1.1%). Meanwhile, transport costs rose at a slightly faster 6.3%, compared to 6% in January. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.2%, after a 0.6% increase in the previous month.

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.