Rwanda Inflation Rate Continues to Accelerate

Rwanda's inflation rate was at 7.7% in March 2026, down slightly from an eight-month high of 7.9% recorded in February. Prices slowed a bit for some CPI categories, including food & non-alcoholic beverages (4.6% vs 5.2% in February); alcoholic beverages & tobacco (13.8% vs 15.9%); clothing & footwear (4.3% vs 4.9%); transport (6.5% vs 7.1%) and restaurants & hotels (18.1% vs 18.8%). On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 1.7%, the fastest pace in nearly a year, accelerating from a 1.2% rise in February. The main upward contributions came from food and non-alcoholic beverages (2.4%), housing and utilities (2.3%), recreation and culture (1.6%), and restaurants and hotels (1.4%).

Rwanda's inflation rate rose for the third month to 7.9% in February 2026, reaching the highest level since June 2025, compared to January's 7.5%. Upward pressure came from several CPI categories, including restaurants & hotels (18.8% vs 18.2% in January); alcoholic beverages & tobacco (15.9% vs 14.9%); education (10.5% vs 10.5%); housing & utilities (8.3% vs 5.9%); transportation (7.1% vs 7.2%); miscellaneous goods & services (5.4% vs 5.3%) and food & non-alcoholic beverages (5.2% vs 5.3%). On a monthly basis, the CPI inched up by 1.2% in February, after a 0.6% increase in the prior month.

Rwanda's inflation rate rose for the second month to 7.5% in January 2026, the highest level in seven months, compared to December's 5.2%. The heavyweight food & non-alcoholic beverages index climbed by 5.3%, following a 1% advance in the previous month, as prices rebounded for vegetables (3.8% vs -6.2%). Meat (14.8% vs 17.2%) and bread & cereals (9.7% vs 10.8%) also remained expensive. At the same time, prices continued to increase significantly for some other CPI categories, including health (63.5% vs 63.6%); restaurants & hotels (18.2% vs 16.2%); alcoholic beverages & tobacco (14.9% vs 15.1%); education (10.5% vs 10.5%); transportation (7.2% vs 7.8%) and housing & utilities (5.9% vs 4.9%). On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 0.6% in January, after a similar decrease in the prior month.