The inflation rate in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, stood at 8.0% in September 2026, unchanged from the previous month and slightly below market expectations of 8.1%. This remained the highest reading since June 2023, as food inflation climbed to an over three-year high of 8.7% from 8.5% in August. Non-food inflation was unchanged at 7.7%. At the same time, prices rose faster in housing and utilities (5.5% vs 5.1%), clothing and footwear (1.5% vs 1.4%), health (4.0% vs 3.4%), and restaurants and hotels (11.5% vs 11.1%). In contrast, inflation softened in transport (16.3% vs 16.7%) and miscellaneous goods and services (6.7% vs 6.8%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged down to 0.1% in September from 0.3% in the previous month. source: The Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka

Inflation Rate in Sri Lanka remained unchanged at 8 percent in September. Inflation Rate in Sri Lanka averaged 9.75 percent from 1986 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 67.40 percent in September of 2022 and a record low of -4.20 percent in February of 2025. This page provides - Sri Lanka Inflation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Sri Lanka Inflation Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on October of 2026.

Inflation Rate in Sri Lanka remained unchanged at 8 percent in September. Inflation Rate in Sri Lanka is expected to be 10.20 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Sri Lanka Inflation Rate is projected to trend around 3.00 percent in 2027 and 4.00 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-08-31 09:30 AM
Inflation Rate YoY
Aug 8% 7.3% 7.7% 7.4%
2026-09-30 09:30 AM
Inflation Rate YoY
Sep 8.0% 8% 8.1% 8.5%
2026-10-30 09:30 AM
Inflation Rate YoY
Oct 8.0% 8.2%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Consumer Price Index CPI 209.10 208.80 points Sep 2026
Core Consumer Prices 190.10 188.80 points Aug 2026
Core Inflation Rate 5.10 4.40 percent Aug 2026
CPI Housing Utilities 142.90 143.00 points Sep 2026
CPI Transportation 262.50 264.60 points Sep 2026
Export Prices 206.29 196.80 points Aug 2026
Food Inflation 8.70 8.50 percent Sep 2026
GDP Implicit Price Deflator 272.00 251.00 points Jun 2026
Import Prices 318.66 298.80 points Aug 2026
Inflation Rate YoY 8.00 8.00 percent Sep 2026
Inflation Rate MoM 0.10 0.30 percent Sep 2026
Producer Prices 251.70 250.50 points Aug 2026
PPI YoY 5.20 5.40 percent Aug 2026


Sri Lanka Inflation Rate
In Sri Lanka, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is composed of two main groups: Food Items (41%) and Non-food Items (59%). Food items are mainly composed of: Bread & Cereals (8%), Fish & Sea food (6%) and Vegetables (6%). The most important Non-Food Items are: Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (24%), Transport (12%), and Restaurants & Hotels (6%).
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
8.00 8.00 67.40 -4.20 1986 - 2026 percent Monthly
2021=100

News Stream
Sri Lanka Inflation Rate Steady at Over 3-Year High
The inflation rate in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, stood at 8.0% in September 2026, unchanged from the previous month and slightly below market expectations of 8.1%. This remained the highest reading since June 2023, as food inflation climbed to an over three-year high of 8.7% from 8.5% in August. Non-food inflation was unchanged at 7.7%. At the same time, prices rose faster in housing and utilities (5.5% vs 5.1%), clothing and footwear (1.5% vs 1.4%), health (4.0% vs 3.4%), and restaurants and hotels (11.5% vs 11.1%). In contrast, inflation softened in transport (16.3% vs 16.7%) and miscellaneous goods and services (6.7% vs 6.8%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged down to 0.1% in September from 0.3% in the previous month.
2026-09-30
Sri Lanka Inflation Rate Highest in Over 3 Years
The inflation rate in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, rose to 8.0% in August 2026 from 7.3% in the previous month, above market expectations of 7.7%. This marked the highest reading since June 2023, as food inflation climbed to an over three-year high of 8.5% from 6.3% in July. Prices also rose faster for clothing and footwear (1.4% vs 0.8%), furnishings and equipment (6.6% vs 5.4%), health (3.4% vs 3.0%), communication (0.9% vs 0.5%), restaurants and hotels (11.1% vs 10.6%), and miscellaneous goods and services (6.8% vs 6.2%). In contrast, non-food inflation edged down to 7.7% from 7.8%, with lower inflation in housing and utilities (5.1% vs 5.4%) and transport (16.7% vs 17.2%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices ticked up 0.3% in September, following a 0.2% increase in the previous month.
2026-08-31
Sri Lanka Inflation Rate Hits Over 3-Year High
The inflation rate in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, rose to 7.3% in July 2026 from 6.8% in the previous month, well above market expectations of 6.7%. This marked the highest reading since June 2023, as food inflation accelerated to a more than three-year high of 6.3% from 3.6% in June, while non-food prices remained elevated but eased to 7.8% from 8.4%. Prices increased faster for furnishing and equipment (5.4% vs 4.5% in June), communication (0.5% vs 0.3%), education (7.2% vs 6.5%), restaurants and hotels (10.6% vs 10.3%), and miscellaneous goods and services (6.2% vs 5.8%). Meanwhile, inflation slowed for transport (17.2% vs 18.7%), clothing and footwear (0.8% vs 1.3%), housing and utilities (5.4% vs 6.3%), and health (3.0% vs 4.2%). Costs were flat for alcoholic beverages and tobacco after a 1.7% increase, while prices for recreation and culture declined further (-2.1% vs -1.4%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices moderated to 0.2% in July from 2.1% in the previous month.
2026-07-31