Fiji Consumer Prices Rise for 1st Time in 15 Months

Fiji's annual inflation accelerated to 3.9% in May 2026 from 1.8% in April, marking the highest rate since July 2024, boosted by higher fuel prices amid rising oil prices. The acceleration was mainly driven by a sharp rise in transport prices (7.5% vs 1.1% in April), the highest since July 2024. Food inflation accelerated to 3.0%, the highest since January 2025, while housing prices rebounded (1.5% vs -0.8%), recording the fastest increase since September 2024. Meanwhile, inflation moderated in both alcoholic beverages and tobacco (12.5% vs 12.9%) and miscellaneous goods and services (2.9% vs 3.2%), while remaining steady for education (at 0.4%). By contrast, prices continued to fall for clothing and footwear (-1.2% vs -1.2%), recreation and culture (-2.8% vs -3.2%), and furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance (-1.1% vs -1.0%). Monthly, CPI climbed 1.6% in May, easing from a 2.1% gain in April, which had marked the fastest increase since August 2023.

Consumer prices in Fiji increased 1.8% year-on-year in April 2026, rebounding from a 0.8% fall in March. It was the first inflation reading since January 2025, after three consecutive months of deflation and stagnation in December. The inflation was mainly driven by a rebound in transport prices (1.1% vs -8.8%), while food inflation stabilised after declining 1.9% in March. Upward price pressures were also seen in alcoholic beverages and tobacco (12.9% vs 12.2% in March), education (0.4% vs 0.4%), and miscellaneous goods and services (3.2% vs 3.7%). Downward pressures came from housing (-0.8% vs -3.0%), clothing and footwear (-1.2% vs -1.9%), recreation and culture (-3.2% vs -3.1%), and furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance (-1.0% vs -0.8%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 2.1% in April after edging up 0.1% in March, marking the fastest increase since August 2023.

Consumer prices in Fiji dropped 0.8% year-on-year in March 2026, following a 0.5% decline in February. It marked the third straight month of deflation mainly due to lower food and non-alcoholic beverage prices (-1.9% vs -1.5% in February). Downward price pressures were also seen in transport (-8.8% vs -6.4%), housing (-3.0% vs -2.8%), clothing and footwear (-1.9% vs -2.5%), recreation and culture (-3.1% vs -2.3%), and furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance (-0.8% vs -0.5%). Upward price pressures came from alcoholic beverages and tobacco (12.2% vs 9.5%), education (0.4% vs 0.4%), and miscellaneous goods and services (3.7% vs 4.2%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged up 0.1% in March, easing from a 1.0% rise in February.