Dominican Annual Inflation Eases Slightly in March

The annual inflation rate in the Dominican Republic accelerated to 5.35% in May 2026 from 5.11% in the previous month. This marks the highest level since March 2023, as transport prices rose sharply by 7.5% from 5.3% in April, with additional upward pressures from recreation and culture (2.7% vs 2.4%). In contrast, other categories moderated. Food inflation eased to 6.6% from 7%, while price growth also slowed for health (5.0% vs 5.2%) and education (6.6% vs 7.2%). Meanwhile, inflation stood for housing and utilities (2.6%), restaurants and hotels (7.7%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (5.3%) and furnishings (1.9%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.31% in May, easing from 0.49% in April.

The annual inflation rate in the Dominican Republic accelerated to 5.11% in April 2026 from 4.63% in the previous month, marking the highest level in three years and moving above the central bank’s 4.0% ±1.0% target range. The strongest price increases were recorded in restaurants and hotels (7.7%), education (7.1%), food and non-alcoholic beverages (7.0%), miscellaneous goods and services (6.2%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (5.3%), transport (5.3%), and healthcare (5.2%). In contrast, prices for clothing and footwear declined 1.4% from a year earlier. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.5% in April.

The annual inflation rate in the Dominican Republic eased slightly to 4.63% in March 2026 from 4.67% in February, the lowest since October and still within the central bank’s 4.0% ±1.0% target, marking 35 straight months of alignment. Food and alcoholic beverages rose more slowly at 6.9% versus 7.2% in February, while communications turned to deflation at -1.2% from 0.4%, and clothing and footwear continued to fall, though at a slower pace (-1.3% vs -1.5%). Housing and utilities edged up 1.8% from 1.7%, and transport costs rose 3.1% following a 2.8% increase in the previous month. On a monthly basis, inflation accelerated to 0.27% from 0.03% in February.