Dominican Republic Inflation Hits Three-Year High

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.

The annual inflation rate in the Dominican Republic eased to 4.67% in February 2026, down from 4.98% in January. Inflation remains within the monetary program’s target range of 4.0% plus or minus 1.0%, marking 34 consecutive months of alignment with the target since May 2023. Food prices rose at a slower pace, increasing 7.16% after a 8.03% rise in January. Transport prices increased 2.76%, following a 3.46% rise. Communication inflation slowed to 0.42% from 0.61%, while recreation and culture eased to 1.99% from 2.39%. Deflation deepened in clothing and footwear, falling 1.46% after a 1.43% increase in the prior month.