Durrant Pate/Contributor

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is reporting that the spike in Jamaica’s inflation continued in December 2025, as the All‑Jamaica Consumer Price Index (CPI) climbed to 150 points, reflecting a 1.3% increase over the November 2025 index.

This indicates that inflationary pressures remained elevated. The December movement continued to reflect the impact of Hurricane Melissa, particularly on agricultural prices, alongside higher housing‑related costs. The main driver of the monthly increase (1.3%) was a 2.0% rise in the index for the ‘Food and Non‑Alcoholic Beverages’ division, reflecting higher prices for agricultural produce. 

Additionally, the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division increased by 2.6%, largely influenced by higher electricity rates and rental costs. The point‑to‑point inflation rate was +4.5%, representing a 0.1% increase relative to the 4.4% recorded for the period November 2024 to November 2025. Compared to November 2025, the CPI, which measures inflation, increased by 1.3% in December 2025.

The All‑Jamaica point‑to‑point inflation rate for the period December 2024 to December 2025 was 4.5%. The main contributors to this increase were the divisions ‘Food and Non‑Alcoholic Beverages’ (+7.1%), ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ (+3.5%) and ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ (+3.9%).

Disaggregated numbers

Within the ‘Food and Non‑Alcoholic Beverages’ division, all classes registered increases over the point‑to‑point period. The ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’ class recorded the largest impact (up 8.4%), reflecting higher prices for yams, Irish potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, cabbage and pumpkins. 

Additionally, the ‘Fish and other seafood’ class increased by 8.4%, mainly due to higher prices for salted fish, sardines, mackerel and sliced fish. In the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division, the 3.5% point‑to‑point increase was driven primarily by a 5.1% rise in ‘Imputed Rentals for Housing’, reflecting higher rental costs. 

There was also a 3.7% increase in ‘Water Supply and Miscellaneous Services relating to the Dwelling’, due to higher water supply and sewage rates. The 3.9% increase in the ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ division was mainly attributable to a 4.0% rise in the ‘Food and Beverage Serving Services’ group, reflecting higher prices for meals consumed away from home.

Major CPI division movements

The index of the ‘Food and Non‑Alcoholic Beverages’ division rose by 2.0% in December 2025. The ‘Food’ group increased by 2.1%, driven mainly by a 4.5% rise in ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’ and a 5.6% increase in ‘Fruits and nuts’, influenced by higher prices for green banana, tomato, pumpkin, hot pepper, ripe banana and watermelon. 

Additionally, there was a 3.4% increase in the index of the ‘Fish and other seafood’ class, largely due to increased prices for salted fish. However, the increase was partially offset by a 1.7% decline in ‘Ready‑made food and other food products’, mainly due to lower escallion prices.

The ‘Non‑Alcoholic Beverages’ group rose by 0.3%, driven by increases in ‘Water, Soft Drinks and Other Non‑Alcoholic Beverages’ (+0.3%), ‘Fruit and Vegetable Juices’ (+0.2%) and ‘Coffee, Tea and Cocoa’ (+0.2%). The index for the ‘Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics’ division increased by 0.2%, reflecting a 0.2% rise in the ‘Alcoholic Beverages’ group.

The index for ‘Clothing and Footwear’ rose by 0.3%, driven by increases in ‘Clothing’ (+0.3%) and ‘Footwear’ (+0.1%). The index for ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ increased by 2.6%, primarily due to a 5.4% rise in ‘Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’, reflecting higher electricity rates. Additionally, ‘Imputed Rentals for Housing’ rose by 1.2%, reflecting higher rental prices.

The index ‘Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance’ increased by 0.2%, driven mainly by higher prices for household cleaning products such as laundry soap, detergents and all‑purpose cleaners. The ‘Tools and Equipment for House and Garden’ group recorded the highest increase (+0.5%). The index ‘Health’ rose by 0.1%, reflecting higher prices for over‑the‑counter pain relievers within the ‘Medicines and Health Products’ group.

The index ‘Recreation, Sport and Culture’ increased by 0.1%, largely due to higher prices for newspapers, books and stationery. The index ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ rose by 0.1%, driven by increased prices for meals consumed away from home. The index ‘Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services’ advanced by 0.5%, reflecting higher prices for personal care products and grooming services.

Individual Divisional Monthly Changes – December 2025      

• Food and Non‑Alcoholic Beverages: (+2.0%)
• Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics: (+0.2%)
• Clothing and Footwear: (+0.3%)
• Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels: (+2.6%)
• Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance: (+0.2%)
• Health: (+0.1%)
• Recreation, Sport and Culture: (+0.1%)
• Restaurants and Accommodation Services: (+0.1%)
• Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services: (+0.5%)