Colombia Inflation Cools to 4.82% in June, Lowest Since 2021

The annual inflation rate in Colombia rose to 6.24% in August 2026 from 6.03% in July, exceeding market expectations for a 6.1% gain. The latest reading also marked the fastest increase since July 2024, pushing inflation further above the central bank’s 3% target, driven by stronger price growth for furniture and household maintenance (6.67% vs 6.30% in July), housing and utilities (5.74% vs 5.40%), information and communication (5.97% vs 4.97%), recreation and culture (4.98% vs 3.74%), and miscellaneous goods and services (6.05% vs 5.97%). Inflation also picked up for transport (5.25% vs 5.21%). Meanwhile, price growth eased for food and non-alcoholic beverages (6.10% vs 5.82%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (6.94% vs 7.14%), clothing and footwear (3.26% vs 3.38%), health (8.30% vs 8.37%), education (7.45% vs 7.57%), and restaurants and hotels (9.36% vs 9.53%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices grew by 0.39% in August, topping forecasts for a 0.26% rise and July’s 0.17% gain.

Colombia’s annual inflation rate slowed slightly to 6.03% in July 2026 from June’s near two-year high of 6.14%, below market forecasts of 6.2%. The deceleration was driven by softer increases in food and non-alcoholic beverages (5.82% vs 6.83% in June), transport (5.21% vs 5.47%), health (8.37% vs 8.39%), recreation and culture (3.74% vs 3.92%), miscellaneous goods and services (5.97% vs 6.12%), information and communication (4.97% vs 5.16%), and restaurants and hotels (9.53% vs 9.59%), while education inflation remained steady at 7.57%. Meanwhile, inflation accelerated for housing and utilities (5.40% vs 5.02%), furniture and household maintenance (6.30% vs 6.22%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (7.14% vs 7.02%), and clothing and footwear (3.38% vs 2.98%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.17% in July, following a 0.39% increase in June, below market expectations of 0.35% and marking the softest increase since November 2025.

Colombia’s annual inflation rate jumped to 6.14% in June 2026 from 5.84% in May, exceeding market forecasts of 6.09% and marking the highest reading since July 2024. The acceleration was driven by faster price increases in food and non-alcoholic beverages (6.83% vs 6.04% in May), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (7.02% vs 6.78%), and clothing and footwear (2.98% vs 2.70%). Costs also rose for housing and utilities (5.02% vs 4.50%), furniture and household maintenance (6.22% vs 6.16%), health (8.39% vs 8.35%), recreation and culture (3.92% vs 3.84%), and miscellaneous goods and services (6.12% vs 6.05%). Meanwhile, inflation eased for transport (5.47% vs 5.67%), information and communication (5.16% vs 5.30%), education (7.57% vs 7.58%), and restaurants and hotels (9.59% vs 9.62%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.39% in June, slowing from a 0.47% increase in May and marking the softest monthly gain in six months.