Annualised inflation for July 2025 rose 3.3 per cent, according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica’s (STATIN’s) latest All-Jamaica Consumer Price Index (CPI), as consumers paid higher prices for poultry, residential rent, and eating out.

Point-to-point inflation as at July 2025 was 0.5 per cent lower than that of June 2025, for which 12-month price increases were up by 3.8 per cent. Both inflation measurements were lower than the Bank of Jamaica’s targeted 4 per cent to 6 per cent range.

When compared with July 2024, prices in both the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages division and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels segment of the CPI grew by 3.7 per cent. Meanwhile, prices in the Restaurant and Accommodation Services were up 6.3 per cent.

A 6.0 per cent increase and 14.8 per cent jump in prices in the ‘Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals’ and ‘Fruits and Nuts’ classes, respectively, were the main drivers of the upward movement in the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages division.

In particular, the price of mixed parts, whole chicken, chicken frankfurters and turkey neck was higher than a year ago. In addition, consumers paid more for ripe bananas, oranges, watermelon and dried coconut than they did in July 2024.

Inflation movement in the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ index was due to higher housing rental rates and an upward adjustment in water supply and sewage rates.

Higher prices for food sold by fast food restaurants and cookshops were the main driver for the increase in the Restaurant and Accommodation Services index.

Monthly inflation

Over the last month, inflation rose by 0.3 per cent, moving from 141.5 in June to 142.0. This was mainly due to a 0.9 per cent rise in the index for the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division.

“Within the division, the index for the ‘Food’ group rose by 0.9 per cent, while the index for the ‘Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ group increased by 0.4 per cent,” STATIN shared in a release.

“The increase in the ‘Food’ group was largely due to a 2.9 per cent rise in the index for the class ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’. Prices for cabbage, sweet pepper, tomato and yam increased; however, this was partly offset by lower prices for carrot, plaintain and sweet potato,” it continued.

Another contributor to the monthly inflation rate was an upward movement of 0.4 per cent in the ‘Transport’ division, due mainly to the cost of petrol rising.

Overall, the inflation rate was offset by a 0.8 per cent decline in the index for the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division. Lower electricity rates contributed to a 2.9 per cent fall in the index ‘Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’.