Peru Inflation Rate Highest Since 2023
2026-04-01 09:25
By
Czyrill Jean Coloma
1 min. read
The annual inflation rate in Peru’s capital, Lima, climbed to 3.80% in March 2026, from 2.21% in the previous month.
This marked the highest reading since October 2023 and exceeded the central bank’s target range of 1%–3%, with Central Reserve Bank (BCR) Governor Julio Velarde attributing the increase to a natural gas emergency caused by the rupture of the Camisea gas pipeline earlier in the month, as well as rising fuel prices driven by the Middle East conflict.
He also noted that the shock is expected to be temporary and to ease over the course of the year.
The central bank expects that year-end inflation will settle at 2.4%, largely influenced by higher fuel costs, which in turn affect food prices.
Costs increased at a faster pace for both food and non-alcoholic beverages (5.4% vs 3.99% in February) and transportation (11.47% vs 1.95%).
On a monthly basis, consumer prices jumped to 2.38% from 0.69% in February, marking the highest level since December 1993.