Lebanon Inflation Rate Hits 15-Month High

The annual inflation rate in Lebanon rose to 17.3% in March 2026, accelerating from 12.3% in the previous month. This marked the highest reading since December 2024, mainly driven by faster price growth in food and non-alcoholic beverages (19.4% vs 16.0% in February), housing and utilities (20.3% vs 14.8%), transportation (24.8% vs 6.0%), health (2.2% vs 2.0%), furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance (5.1% vs 4.3%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (8.7% vs 7.4%), recreation, amusement, and culture (42.7% vs 30.3%), restaurants and hotels (11.3% vs 7.9%), and miscellaneous goods and services (14.6% vs 13.6%). Meanwhile, inflation moderated for clothing and footwear (2.4% vs 3.9%), while it remained steady for education (-35.7%) and communication (-1.6%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 4.9% from 1.9%, the highest since October 2023.

Lebanon’s annual inflation rate rose to 12.27% in February 2026, up from 10.91% in the previous month, marking the highest level since November 2025. Prices rose in food and non-alcoholic beverages (16.03% vs 15.14% in January), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (7.44% vs 6.95%), clothing and footwear (3.86% vs 2.82%), and restaurants and hotels (7.87% vs 7.21%). At the same time, prices rebounded for transport (6.03% vs -0.71%) and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (4.26% vs -2.30%), while deflation eased in communication (-1.60% vs -1.63%). Meanwhile, inflation slowed in housing and utilities (14.82% vs 14.99%), health (2.04% vs 2.19%), education (35.71% vs 35.94%), and recreation and culture (30.32% vs 31.31%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices accelerated to 1.90% in February, rebounding from a 0.08% decline in January.

The annual inflation rate in Lebanon eased to 10.9% in January 2026 from 12.2% in the previous month, marking the lowest reading since January 2020. Prices slowed mostly for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (7.0% vs 8.1% in December 2025), housing and utilities (15.0% vs 17.2%), recreation, amusement, and culture (31.3% vs 31.6%), restaurants and hotels (7.2% vs 7.6%), and miscellaneous goods and services (14.2% vs 21.6%). Additionally, transportation costs fell (-0.7% vs 3.2%), while deflation deepened for furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance (-2.3% vs -1.6%) and communication (-1.6% vs -0.7). Meanwhile, prices continued to increase for food and non-alcoholic beverages (15.1% vs 14.6%) and clothing and footwear (2.8% vs 2.0%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices declined by 0.1% in January 2026, following a flat reading in the previous month.