Malawi Inflation Rate Hits 4-Month High

The annual inflation rate in Malawi slowed to 26.0% in December 2025 from 27.9% in the previous month. This marked the lowest level since January 2023, as price pressures eased, particularly across food categories. Food inflation eased to 26.5% from 30.1% in the previous month. In contrast, non-food inflation rose to 25.2% from 24.2%, reflecting higher costs for housing, transport, and clothing. On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 3.0% in December, following a 2.2% rise in each of the previous three months, marking the fastest monthly rise since February. For the full year of 2025, average inflation stood at 28.4% compared with 32.2% recorded in 2024.

The annual consumer price inflation rate in Malawi rose to 28.2% in August 2025, up from 27.3% in July, marking the highest level recorded in the past four months. This acceleration in inflation was broad-based, including both food and non-food categories. Food prices surged to 33.7%, up from 32.4% the previous month, reflecting continued pressures in the cost of essential goods, while non-food inflation edged higher to 19.5% from 19.3%. On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased by 2.7%, picking up from a 2.2% rise in July, and representing the fastest growth since February.

Malawi's consumer price inflation rate rose to 28.5% year-on-year in January 2025, up from 28.1% in December, marking the highest rate in three months. The increase was primarily driven by rising food costs (36.0% vs 35.6%), particularly maize and its products, such as maize flour, alongside rice, bread, cooking oil, tomatoes, and other vegetables. Additionally, non-food prices surged (16.9% vs 16.8%) due to higher costs in restaurants and hotels, clothing and footwear, furnishings and household items, as well as housing, water, and electricity. On a monthly basis, consumer prices jumped 4.7% in January, following a 4.5% advance in December.