As Jamaica continues to rebuild lives and livelihoods following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa, the importation of raw materials and consumer goods heavily influenced the price movements in December 2025, as outlined in the All-Jamaica Consumer Price Index.

Director General of the Statistical Institute of Jamaica Leesha Delatie-Budair highlighted the contribution of imports to December’s inflation rate, which rose by 1.3 per cent, during a press briefing at AC Hotel Kingston on Thursday, January 15.

“Spending on imported goods increased by 3.7% during the review period, primarily driven by increases in the imports of raw materials or intermediate goods, up by 11.8 per cent, and consumer goods, up by 9.1 per cent,” she said.

She added that price increases across the segments included housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, with the largest divisional increase at 2.6 per cent; food and non-alcoholic beverages, up 2.0 per cent; and personal care and miscellaneous services, rising by 0.5 per cent.

According to a release from STATIN, the increase in the index for the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division was due primarily to a 4.5 per cent increase in the index for the class ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses’ and a 5.6 per cent increase in the index of the class ‘Fruits and nuts’.  

“These increases were attributable to the continued increase in the prices of some agricultural produce that were impacted by Hurricane Melissa,” the release further outlined.

An 8.4 per cent increase in the price of seafood and other fish and seafood classes, particularly saltfish, sardines, and mackerel, also contributed to upward movement in the index for the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division.

Higher electricity rates, sewerage and rental costs contributed to the prices in the index for the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division, rising by 2.6 per cent.

“The point-to-point inflation rate, which shows the average change in prices between December 2024 and December 2025, was 4.5 per cent. The main factors influencing the point-to-point inflation rate were food and non-alcoholic beverages, which increased by 7.1 per cent, housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, which increased by 3.5 per cent, and restaurants and accommodation services, which increased by 3.9 per cent,” Delatie-Budair also shared.