Rwanda Inflation Rate Quickens for 3rd Month

Rwanda's annual inflation rate rose for the third month to 12.7% in June 2026, the highest level since October 2023, up from May's 12.3%. Prices climbed further for transportation (29.1% vs 28% in May); housing & utilities (23.3% vs 21.8%); recreation & culture (11.3% vs 8.5%) and food & non-alcoholic beverages (8% vs 7.6%), especially meat (14.7%) and vegetables (11.8%). At the same time, prices remained elevated for health (65%); alcoholic beverages & tobacco (13.5%); restaurants & hotels (13.4%); education (11.3%), furnishings & household equipment (10.2%) and miscellaneous goods & services (9.2%). On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 0.4%, after a 0.6% increase in the month before.

Rwanda's annual inflation rate quickened further to 12.3% in May 2026, a fresh high since October 2023, up from 11.5% in April. The main upward pressure came from prices of transportation (28% vs 26.6% in April); housing & utilities (21.8% vs 22.8%) and food & non-alcoholic beverages (7.6% vs 5.8%). At the same time, prices remained elevated for other CPI items, including alcoholic beverages & tobacco (14.2%); restaurants & hotels (15.1%); education (11.3%); recreation & culture (8.5%); health (65.3%), among others. The core inflation rate accelerated to 9.2% in May, the highest since January 2024, from 8.7% in the prior month. On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 0.6% in May, down sharply from a 5.9% advance in the month before.

Rwanda's annual inflation rate accelerated to 11.5% in April 2026 from 7.7% in the previous month. It was the highest level since October 2023, with food and non-alcoholic beverages rising at the fastest pace in nine months (5.8% vs 4.6% in March), mainly driven by meat, non-alcoholic beverages, and bread and cereals. Inflation also accelerated for transport (26.6% vs 6.5%); housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels (22.8% vs 10.6%); clothing and footwear (4.6% vs 4.3%); alcoholic beverages and tobacco (15.6% vs 13.8%); and miscellaneous goods and services (7.7% vs 5.5%). The core inflation rate accelerated to 8.7% in April from 8.0% in the preceding month, marking the fastest increase since January 2024. On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 5.7%, following a 1.7% increase in March, marking the fastest pace since the data series began in 2009.