Inflation for March 2026, as measured by the All-Jamaica Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.3 per cent.

This was mainly influenced by a 2.3 per cent rise in the index for the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division, due primarily to higher electricity rates, which led to a 5.1 per cent increase in the group ‘Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’. 

Additionally, the ‘Transport’ division recorded an increase of 0.6 per cent, mainly due to higher petrol prices. The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), which released the latest CPI yesterday, says the overall increase in inflation was tempered by a 0.6 per cent decline in the index for the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division. 

This fall primarily resulted from a 4.9 per cent decline in the index for the class ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses’ due to lower prices for some agricultural produce, such as, tomato, carrot, cabbage, Irish potato and pumpkin.

The point-to-point inflation rate as at March 2026 was 4.3 per cent with the main contributors being ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’, up 5.6 per cent; ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’, up 4.9 per cent. Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services, were up 4.0 per cent. 

The CPI measures changes in the general level of prices for consumer goods and services purchased by private households.