September 17, 2025
The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) reported that as of August 2025, the point-to-point inflation rate was +1.2%; 2.1 percentage points lower than the 3.3% recorded between July 2024 to July 2025. Compared to July 2025, the All-Jamaica Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.3% in August 2025.
The main driver of the monthly increase (0.3%) was a 0.8% rise in the index for the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division, primarily due to higher prices for agricultural produce such as watermelon, sweet potato, Irish potato, cabbage, and escallion. Additionally, a 0.9% increase in the ‘Recreation, Sport and Culture’ division contributed to the overall uptick, driven by increased prices for textbooks and stationery. However, this was tempered by a 0.4% decline in the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division, primarily due to lower electricity rates.
The All-Jamaica point-to-point inflation rate for the period August 2024 to August 2025 was 1.2%. The main contributors to this increase were the divisions: ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ (+5.2%), ‘Education’ (+9.8%), and ‘Information and Communication’ (−5.8%).
The rise in the index for the ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ division was primarily due to a 5.2% increase in the ‘Food and Beverage Serving Services’ group, reflecting higher prices for meals sold by fast food restaurants and cookshops. Additionally, the ‘Accommodation Services’ group rose by 1.7%, driven by increased rates for All-Inclusive and European Plan hotels.
In the ‘Education’ division, the 9.8% increase was mainly attributable to a 10.5% rise in the ‘Early Childhood and Primary Education’ group, due to higher preparatory school fees. There was also a 6.8% increase in the ‘Secondary Education’ group, stemming from increased fees for Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.
The decline in the ‘Information and Communication’ division (−5.8%) was primarily driven by a 6.7% decrease in the ‘Information and Communication Services’ group, largely due to adjusted prices for mobile data plans.
MAJOR CPI DIVISION MOVEMENTS
The index of the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division rose by 0.8% for the period. Within this division, the ‘Food’ group recorded a 0.9% increase, mainly due to a 3.5% rise in the ‘Fruits and Nuts’ category and a 0.9% increase in the ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’ category. These increases were driven by higher prices for agricultural produce such as watermelon, pineapple, papaya, sweet potato, Irish potato, green banana, and cabbage. Additional upward movements were observed in the ‘Meat and Other Parts of Slaughtered Land Animals’ (+0.6%), ‘Fish and Seafood’ (+0.5%), and ‘Ready-made Food and Other Food Products’ (+2.0%) categories. The ‘Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ group saw a modest 0.2% increase, with all classes within the group recording gains: ‘Fruit and Vegetable Juices’ (+0.1%), ‘Coffee, Tea, Cocoa’ (+0.4%), and ‘Water, Soft Drinks and Other Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ (+0.2%).
The point-to-point inflation rate for this division was 0.5%.
The index for the ‘Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics’ division rose by 0.1%. This increase was primarily driven by a 0.2% increase in the index of the group ‘Alcoholic Beverages’, influenced by increases in the index for the classes ‘Spirits and liquors’ (0.2%), ‘Wine’ (0.1%) and ‘Beer’ (0.2%).
The point-to-point inflation rate for this division was 3.1%.
The index for the ‘Clothing and Footwear’ division increased by 0.4%. There was a 0.4% rise in the index for both the ‘Clothing’ and ‘Footwear’ groups.
The point-to-point inflation rate for this division was 3.2%.
The index for the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division declined by 0.4%. This was primarily due to lower electricity rates, which led to a 1.3% decrease in the index for the ‘Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ group. Offsetting this decline to a small extent was a 0.1% increase in the index for the ‘Water Supply and Miscellaneous Services Relating to the Dwelling’ group, reflecting higher water and sewage rates.
The point-to-point inflation rate for this division was -0.5%.
The index for the ‘Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance’ division increased by 0.1%. This was largely due to the 0.3% increase recorded for the index of the ‘Household Appliances’ group.
The point-to-point inflation rate was 3.4%.
The index for the ‘Health’ division rose by 0.2% during the review period. This was mainly driven by a 0.2% increase in the ‘Medicines and Health Products’ group, reflecting higher prices for both over the counter and prescription drugs. Additionally, the ‘Outpatient Care Services’ group recorded a 0.2% rise, largely due to increased fees for dental care services.
The point-to-point inflation rate was 4.6%.
The index for the ‘Transport’ division declined by 0.2%. This was mainly influenced by a 1.3% fall in the index of the ‘Fuels and Lubricants for personal transport equipment’ class, largely due to lower petrol prices.
The point-to-point inflation rate was -0.4%.
The index for the ‘Recreation, Sport and Culture’ division increased by 0.9%. This was mainly driven by a 1.1% rise in the index of the ‘ Newspapers, Books and Stationery’ group resulting from higher prices for textbooks and stationery.
The point-to-point inflation rate was 3.2%.
The index for the ‘Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Good and Services’ division rose by 0.2%. This increase was primarily due to higher prices for some personal care products and services.
The point-to-point inflation rate was 3.6%.
Individual divisions saw the following changes:
- Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages: (+0.8%)
- Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics: (+0.1%)
- Clothing and Footwear: (+0.4%)
- Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels: (-0.4%)
- Furnishing, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance: (+0.1%)
- Health: (+0.2%)
- Transport: (-0.2%)
- Recreation, Sport and Culture: (+0.9%)
- Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services: (+0.2%)
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