Brunei Consumer Prices Fall for First Time Since March

Brunei’s consumer prices edged down 0.1% year-on-year in September 2026, reversing a 0.5% increase in the previous month and marking the first decline in six months. Prices fell for clothing (-6.1% vs 2.4% in August), communication (-3.5% vs -3.5%), recreation (-0.7% vs 0.7%), and miscellaneous goods and services (-0.1% vs 0.3%). Transport prices were muted at 0.02%, after a 0.6% increase in August. Housing costs remained nearly flat (at 0.02%). Meanwhile, inflation eased for food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.3% vs 1.7%) and restaurants and hotels (0.5% vs 0.7%), while education inflation held steady (at 0.3%). In contrast, prices accelerated for furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance (0.9% vs 0.3%) and health (0.8% vs 0.6%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.2%, swinging from a 0.3% increase in August and signaling the fifth monthly decline so far this year.

Brunei’s annual inflation rate climbed to 0.5% in August 2026 from zero growth in the previous month, marking the highest reading since December 2023. Price pressures strengthened across most components, led by clothing (2.4% vs -3.8% in July) and food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.7% vs 1.2%). Inflation also increased for transport (0.6% vs 0.2%) and restaurants and hotels (0.7% vs 0.6%), while price growth was unchanged for furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (at 0.3%), health (at 0.6%), recreation (at 0.7%) and education (at 0.3%). Meantime, miscellaneous goods and services returned to growth (0.3% vs -1.0%). Housing prices were broadly flat (0.02% vs 0.0%), while communication costs continued to decline (-3.5%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.3%, reversing a 0.2% decline in July.

Brunei’s annual inflation rate stalled in July 2026, following a more than two-year high of 0.3% in the previous month. Price growth eased for food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.2% vs 1.5% in June) and furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance (0.3% vs 0.4%). In addition, costs slipped for clothing and footwear (-3.8% vs 3.5%), while deflation deepened for communication (-3.5% vs -0.2%) and miscellaneous goods and services (-1.0% vs -0.6%). On the other hand, transport costs rebounded (0.2% vs -0.2%), and inflation edged higher for restaurants and hotels (0.6% vs 0.5%) and recreation and culture (0.7% vs 0.4%). Prices remained steady for housing and utilities (0.0%), health (0.6%), and education (0.3%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.2%, reversing a 0.2% increase in June.