June 17, 2025
The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) reported that as of May 2025, the point-to-point inflation rate was +5.2%; 0.1 percentage points lower than the 5.3% recorded between April 2024 to April 2025. Compared to April 2025, the All-Jamaica Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.4% in May 2025.
The main driver of the monthly increase (0.4%) was a 1.5% increase in the index for the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division, primarily due to higher electricity rates. Additionally, a 0.9% increase in the ‘Restaurant and Accommodation Services’ division, driven by increased prices for meals consumed away from home, contributed to the overall rise. A 0.1% increase in the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division, influenced by a 1.0% rise in the ‘Fish and Other Seafood’ class and a 0.4% increase in ‘Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals’, also added to the inflation. However, this was tempered by declines of 0.4% and 1.6% in the ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’ and ‘Fruits and nuts’ classes, respectively.
The All-Jamaica point-to-point inflation rate for the period May 2024 to May 2025 was 5.2%. The main contributors to this increase were the divisions: ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ (+6.5%), ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ (+7.0%), and ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ (+7.1%).
The rise in the index for the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division was primarily due to an 18.3% increase in the ‘Fruits and Nuts’ category and an 8.7% rise in the ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses’ category. Specifically, prices went up for ripe bananas, oranges, watermelons, and dried coconuts in the ‘Fruits and Nuts’ category, while the ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses’ category saw higher prices for yellow yam, green bananas, ripe plantains, and tomatoes.
The increase in the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels’ division was mainly driven by an 8.2% rise in the ‘Imputed Rentals for Housing’ group and a 6.4% increase in the ‘Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels’ group. These increases were due to higher household rent and electricity rates, respectively.
In the ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ division, the primary factor for the 7.1% increase was higher prices for food purchased away from home. This led to a 6.2% rise in the index for the ‘Food and Beverage Serving Services’ group.
MAJOR CPI DIVISION MOVEMENTS
The index of the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division increased by 0.1% for the period. Within this division, the ‘Food’ group recorded a similar 0.1% rise, mainly due to a 1.0% increase in the ‘Fish and Other Seafood’ category, driven by higher prices for salted fish and salted mackerel. Additional contributors included ‘Cereals and Cereal Products’ and ‘Meat and Other Parts of Slaughtered Land Animals’, both up 0.4%, influenced by higher bread and turkey neck prices, respectively. These gains were partially offset by declines in ‘Fruits and Nuts’ (-1.6%), due to lower prices for watermelon and ripe banana, and ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’ (-0.4%), reflecting lower prices for sweet potato, green banana, and cabbage. The ‘Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ group saw a 0.2% increase, with all classes within the group recording gains: ‘Fruit and Vegetable Juices’ (+0.3%), ‘Coffee, Tea & Cocoa’ (+0.2%), and ‘Water, Soft Drinks & Other Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ (+0.2%)..
The point-to-point inflation rate for this division was 6.5%.
The index for the ‘Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics’ division rose by 0.3%. The increase was due to a 0.4% rise in the index of the ‘Alcoholic Beverages’ group. Within this group, there were increases in the index of all three classes: ‘Spirits and liquors’ (0.4%), ‘Wine’ (0.1%)and ‘Beer’ (0.4%).
The point-to-point inflation rate for this division was 6.6%.
The index for the ‘Clothing and Footwear’ division increased by 0.2%. There was a 0.2% rise in the index of the ‘Clothing’ group, while the ‘Footwear’ group saw a 0.1% increase in its index.
The point-to-point inflation rate for this division was 3.2%.
The index for the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division increased by 1.5%, mainly due to a 4.4% rise in the ‘Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels’ group, driven by higher electricity rates. This increase was further supported by a 0.2% rise in the ‘Water Supply and Miscellaneous Services Relating to the Dwelling’ group, resulting from increased water supply rates.
The point-to-point inflation rate for this division was 7.0%.
The index for the ‘Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance’ division increased by 0.1%, primarily due to a 0.1% rise in the ‘Goods and Services for Routine Household Maintenance’ group, driven by higher prices for household cleaning agents. Additional contributions came from increases in the ‘Furniture, Furnishings, and Loose Carpets’ (0.1%), ‘Household Textiles’ (0.1%), and ‘Household Appliances’ (0.4%) groups.
The point-to-point inflation rate was 4.8%.
The index for the ‘Health’ division increased by 0.4%. This rise was primarily driven by a 0.5% increase in the ‘Medicines and Health Products’ group, due to higher prices for vitamins and some prescribed medicines. Additionally, the ‘Outpatient Care Services’ group saw a 0.3% increase.
The point-to-point inflation rate was 5.0%.
The index for the ‘Transport’ division increased by 0.1%, primarily driven by a 0.5% rise in the ‘Operation of Personal Transport Equipment’ group, due largely to higher prices for petrol and motor vehicle parts.
The point-to-point inflation rate was 0.8%.
The index for ‘Recreation, Sport and Culture’ division increased by 0.1%. This rise was mainly driven by a 0.1% increase in the group ‘Newspapers, Books and Stationery’ due to increased prices for stationery items.
The point-to-point inflation rate was 3.5%.
The index for ‘Education’ division increased by 0.8%. This rise was attributable to higher tuition fees for the summer term for private schools at the primary level.
The point-to-point inflation rate was 9.8%.
The index for ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ division increased by 0.9%. The main contributor to this upward movement was increased prices for meals consumed away from home.
The point-to-point inflation rate was 7.1%.
The index for the ‘Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Good and Services’ division rose by 0.3%. This increase was primarily due to higher prices for personal care products.
The point-to-point inflation rate was 3.5%.
Individual divisions saw the following changes:
- Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages: (+0.1%)
- Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics: (+0.3%)
- Clothing and Footwear: (+0.2%)
- Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels: (+1.5%)
- Furnishing, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance: (+0.1%)
- Health: (+0.4%)
- Transport: (+0.1%)
- Recreation, Sport, and Culture: (+0.1%)
- Education: (+0.8%)
- Restaurants and Accommodation Services: (+0.9%)
- Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services: (+0.3%)
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