Brunei Inflation Hits 2-1/2-Year High in June

Brunei’s annual inflation rose to 0.3% in June 2026 from 0.1% in each of the previous two months, marking the highest reading since December 2023. The latest result also marked the third consecutive month of rising consumer prices, with upward pressure broadening across several categories, including food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.5% vs 1.2% in May), clothing and footwear (3.5% vs -1.5%), furnishings and household maintenance (0.4% vs 0.2%), health (0.6% vs 0.4%), education (0.3% vs 0.3%), restaurants and hotels (0.5% vs 0.4%), recreation and culture (0.4% vs -1.0%). In the meantime, housing and utilities were almost flat (0.03% vs 0.2%), while prices fell further for communication (-0.2% vs -3.4%) and miscellaneous goods and services (-0.6% vs -0.6%). Also, transport cost fell 0.2%, shifting from a 0.4% gain in May. On a monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.2%, swinging from a 0.1% fall in May.

Brunei’s consumer prices inched up 0.1% year-on-year in May 2026, matching April’s pace and marking the second consecutive month of inflation. Prices continued to rise for food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.2% vs 0.8% in April), furnishings and household maintenance (0.2% vs 0.8%), health (0.4% vs 0.4%), transport (0.4% vs 0.1%), and restaurants and hotels (0.4% vs 0.5%). Also, cost of housing and utilities increased 0.2%, swinging from a 0.4% increase in April. Meanwhile, education inflation was stable (at 0.3%). In contrast, several categories continued to record declines, including communication (-3.4% vs -3.4%), recreation and culture (-1.0% vs -1.2%), and miscellaneous goods and services (-0.6% vs -0.5%). Prices of clothing and footwear fell 1.5%, reversing April's 3.2% increase. On a monthly basis, the CPI edged down 0.1%, following a 0.5% rise in April.

Brunei’s consumer prices rose 0.1% year-on-year in April 2026, reversing a 0.1% decline in the prior month and marking the first inflationary reading since October last year. The uptick was driven partly by transport costs, which edged up 0.1% after a 0.4% fall previously. Price pressures also strengthened for food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.8% vs 0.6% in March), clothing and footwear (3.2% vs 2.3%), furnishings and household maintenance (0.8% vs 0.7%), health (0.4% vs 0.2%), and restaurants and hotels (0.5% vs 0.7%). Education inflation held steady at 0.3%. Meanwhile, several categories continued to record declines, including housing and utilities (-0.4% vs -0.3%), recreation and culture (-1.2% vs -2.2%), communication (-3.4% vs -3.5%), and miscellaneous goods and services (-0.5% vs -0.1%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices climbed 0.5%, rebounding from a 0.3% drop in March and marking the strongest monthly increase since December 2024.