Rwanda Inflation Rate

Rwanda's annual inflation climbed to 11.8 percent in November 2019 from 7.2 percent in the previous month. This is the highest inflation rate since April 2017. Prices rose mostly for food & non-alcoholic beverages (23.8 percent vs 14.2 percent in October), namely vegetables (36.1 percent vs 18 percent); bread & cereals (22.9 percent vs 18.2 percent) and meat (19.2 percent vs 18.1 percent), in part reflecting the impact of frequent rains over the past few months. Additional upward pressure came from alcoholic beverages & tobacco (19.1 percent vs 7 percent); housing & utilities (1.4 percent vs 0.3 percent) and miscellaneous goods & services (3.6 percent vs 3.4 percent). On a monthly basis, consumer prices inched up 3.8 percent, after increasing 1.4 percent in the previous month.

Rwanda's annual inflation peaked to 7.2 percent in October 2019 from 4.6 percent in the previous month. This is the highest inflation rate since August 2017, mainly due to prices of food & non-alcoholic beverages (14.2 percent vs 8.2 percent in September) and alcoholic beverages & tobacco (7 percent vs 3.7 percent), as cigarettes cost doubled following recent tax revisions. Meanwhile, cost slowed for transport (1.4 percent vs 1.3 percent); furnishings (4.1 percent vs 4.7 percent); clothing & footwear (6.7 percent vs 7.4 percent). At the same time, inflation was steady for housing & utilities (at 0.3 percent). On a monthly basis, consumer prices were up 1.4 percent, after a 1.6 percent rise in the previous month.

Rwanda's annual inflation rate rose to 4.6 percent in September 2019 from 2.8 percent in the previous month. This is the highest inflation rate since October 2017, as prices increased faster mostly for food & non-alcoholic beverages (8.2 percent vs 3.7 percent in August), namely bread and cereals (13.5 percent vs 11 percent) and vegetables (8.6 percent vs 1.0 percent). Additional upward pressure came from alcoholic beverages, tobacco & narcotics (3.7 percent vs 3.4 percent); restaurants & hotels (1.3 percent vs 1.0 percent); miscellaneous goods & services (3.2 percent vs 3.1 percent); recreation & culture (5.9 percent vs 5.4 percent) and furnishings (4.7 percent vs 4.5 percent). Meanwhile, cost slowed for housing & utilities (0.3 percent vs 0.5 percent) and clothing & footwear (7.4 percent vs 7.5 percent). Transport inflation was steady at 1.3 percent. On a monthly basis, consumer prices went up 1.6 percent, down from a 1.8 percent rise in the previous month.

Rwanda's annual inflation rate rose to 2.3 percent in August 2019 from 1.6 percent in the previous month. It was the highest inflation rate since October 2017, mainly due to higher prices of food & non-alcoholic beverages (3.7 percent vs 0.6 percent in July), namely bread & cereals (11 percent) and meat (15.7 percent). On a monthly basis, consumer prices were up 1.8 percent, after dropping 0.1 percent in the previous month.

Rwanda's annual inflation rate peaked to 1.6 percent in July 2019 from 0.9 percent in the prior month. It was the highest inflation rate since May last year, mainly due to prices of food & non-alcoholic beverages (0.6 percent vs -1.1 percent in June), as a result of the prolonged drought. Additional pressure came from alcoholic beverages & tobacco (2.2 percent vs 1.8 percent); clothing & footwear (7.1 percent vs 6.6 percent); miscellaneous goods & services (1.3 percent vs 1.1 percent) and furnishings (4.5 percent vs 3.5 percent). Meanwhile, cost slowed for housing & utilities (1.3 percent vs 1.7 percent); transport (1.8 percent vs 2.5 percent) and restaurants & hotels (1.4 percent vs 1.5 percent). On a monthly basis, consumer prices were down 0.1 percent, the same pace as in the previous month.

Consumer prices in Rwanda rose 0.9 percent year-on-year in June 2019, following a 0.4 percent decrease in the previous month. It was the highest inflation rate since June last year, as prices advanced faster for transport (3.2 percent vs 2.6 percent in May); restaurants & hotels (2 percent vs 1.7 percent) and furnishings (3.6 percent vs 3.4 percent). Meantime, prices were unchanged for housing & utilities ( vs 1.4 percent in May). In addition, cost fell less for food & non-alcoholic beverages (-1.6 percent vs -3 percent). On a monthly basis, consumer prices were flat, after increasing 0.8 percent in the previous month.