Chile Annual Inflation Accelerates

Chile’s annual inflation rate accelerated to 4.1% in August 2026 from 3.5% in the previous month. The acceleration was mainly driven by higher price growth for food, which increased to 4.6% from 4.0%, and transport, which accelerated sharply to 6.8% from 4.6%. Inflation for recreation, sport, and culture also picked up, rising to 6.4% from 4.4%. Meanwhile, inflation stood at 3.4% for housing and utilities, at 6.6% for restaurants and lodging and 5.9% for education, while deflation in clothing and footwear eased to 4.0% from 4.8%. In contrast, the decline in prices for insurance and financial services accelerated to 3.6% from 3.4%. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.6%, following a 0.1% increase in July. Core consumer prices, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.4% over the month, unchanged from July.

Chile's annual inflation rate eased to 3.5% in July 2026 from 4.3% in June, marking the lowest annual CPI increase since March. The main upward pressures came from restaurants and lodging (6.6%), education (5.9%), healthcare (5.1%), transport (4.6%), recreation, sports, and culture (4.4%), and food and non-alcoholic beverages (4.0%). In contrast, prices fell for clothing and footwear (-4.8%) and insurance and financial services (-3.4%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.1% after remaining unchanged in June, bringing year-to-date inflation to 2.9%. Core consumer prices increased 0.4% month-on-month after declining 0.1% in June.

Chile's annual inflation rate inched up to 4.3% in June 2026 from 3.9% in the prior month, marking the highest reading since September 2025. The main upward pressure came from prices of transportation (8.6% vs 10.1%); restaurants & hotels (6.5% vs 6.5%); education (5.9% vs 5.9%); food & non-alcoholic beverages (4.2% vs 2.5%); housing & utilities (4.3% vs 4.2%) and alcoholic beverages & tobacco (3.4% vs 2.6%). Conversely, prices decreased for clothing & footwear (-4.76% vs -4.9%) and insurance & financial services (-1.8% vs -4.4%). On a monthly basis, the CPI was flat, after increasing by 0.2% in May and against market forecasts of a 0.2% decrease. Prices rose in eight of the 13 categories, with insurance & financial services registering the highest rate (3.4%). Core consumer prices edged down by 0.1% in June, after a 0.4% rise in the month before.