October 16, 2025
The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) reported that as of September 2025, the point-to-point inflation rate was +2.1%; 0.9 percentage points higher than the 1.2% recorded between August 2024 to August 2025. Compared to August 2025, the All-Jamaica Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.8% in September 2025.
The main driver of the monthly increase (0.8%) was a 0.9% rise in the index for the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division, primarily due to higher prices for items in the class ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’. Additionally, a 1.0% increase in the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division contributed to the overall uptick, reflecting increased electricity rates and rental costs. A notable upward movement of 5.6% in the ‘Education’ division also added to the inflationary pressure, stemming from higher tuition fees for private primary schools with the commencement of the new school term.
The All-Jamaica point-to-point inflation rate for the period September 2024 to September 2025 was 2.1%. The main contributors to this increase were the divisions: ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ (+4.8%), ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ (+4.1%), and ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ (+0.7%).
The rise in the index for the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division was primarily due to a 7.0% increase in the ‘Imputed Rentals for Housing’ group, reflecting higher rental costs. Additionally, the ‘Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ group rose by 3.1%, driven by increased electricity rates.
In the ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ division, the 4.1% increase was mainly attributable to a 4.2% rise in the ‘Food and Beverage Serving Services’ group, due to higher prices for meals purchased at fast food restaurants and cookshops.
The 0.7% increase in the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division was largely influenced by a 6.5% decline in the ‘Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals’ class, reflecting increased prices for turkey neck, whole chicken, and chicken parts.
MAJOR CPI DIVISION MOVEMENTS
The index of the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division increased by 0.9% in September 2025. This movement was primarily driven by a 1.0% rise in the ‘Food’ group, reflecting higher prices in key categories. Notably, the index for ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’ rose by 3.0%, influenced by increased costs for items such as sweet potato, tomato, carrot, and cabbage. The ‘Fruits and Nuts’ class also recorded a 1.3% uptick, due mainly to higher prices for watermelon and pineapple. Additional gains were observed in ‘Meat and Other Parts of Slaughtered Land Animals’ (+0.3%), ‘Fish and Seafood’ (+0.5%), and ‘Ready-made Food and Other Food Products’ (+0.3%). The ‘Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ group registered a 0.3% increase, with all constituent classes contributing to the rise: ‘Fruit and Vegetable Juices’ (+0.1%), ‘Coffee, Tea, Cocoa’ (+0.4%), and ‘Water, Soft Drinks and Other Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ (+0.3%).
The point-to-point inflation rate for this division was 0.7%.
The index for the ‘Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics’ division rose by 0.2%. This increase was primarily driven by a 0.3% increase in the index of the group ‘Alcoholic Beverages’, influenced by increases in the index for the classes ‘Spirits and Liquors’ (+0.1%), ‘Wine’ (+0.1%) and ‘Beer’ (+0.3%).
The point-to-point inflation rate for this division was 2.9%.
The index for the ‘Clothing and Footwear’ division increased by 0.2%. There was a 0.2% 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 increased by 1.0%. This was primarily due to higher electricity rates, which led to a 1.8% increase in the index for the ‘Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ group. Additionally, there was a 1.1% increase in the index for the ‘Imputed Rentals for Housing’ group, reflecting higher rental costs.
The point-to-point inflation rate for this division was 4.8%.
The index for the ‘Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance’ division increased by 0.1%. This was largely due to a 0.2% increase recorded for the index of the ‘Goods and Services for Routine Household Maintenance’ group, driven by higher prices for household cleaning products.
The point-to-point inflation rate was 3.3%.
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 over-the-counter medications. Additionally, the ‘Outpatient Care Services’ group recorded a 0.2% rise, largely due to increased fees for medical specialists.
The point-to-point inflation rate was 4.5%.
The index for the ‘Transport’ division increased by 0.3%. This was mainly influenced by a 1.1% rise in the index of the ‘Operation of Personal Transport Equipment’ group, largely due to higher petrol prices and increased toll fees.
The point-to-point inflation rate was 0.3%.
The index for the ‘Recreation, Sport and Culture’ division increased by 0.3%. This was mainly driven by a 0.3% rise in the index of the ‘Newspapers, Books and Stationery’ group resulting from higher prices for school books and stationery.
The point-to-point inflation rate was 3.1%.
The index for the ‘Education’ division increased by 5.6%. This was mainly driven by higher tuition fees for private schools at the primary level for the new school term.
The point-to-point inflation rate was 9.6%.
The index for the ‘Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Good and Services’ division rose by 0.5%. This increase was primarily due to higher prices for some personal care products and grooming services.
The point-to-point inflation rate was 3.6%.
Individual divisions saw the following monthly changes:
- Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages: (+0.9%)
- Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics: (+0.2%)
- Clothing and Footwear: (+0.2%)
- Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels: (+1.0%)
- Furnishing, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance: (+0.1%)
- Health: (+0.2%)
- Transport: (+0.3%)
- Recreation, Sport and Culture: (+0.3%)
- Education: (+5.6%)
- Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services: (+0.5%)
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