The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) has reported that consumer prices for goods and services in Rwanda increased by 17.2% in September 2026 compared to September 2025. This rise is reflected in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the change in prices of goods and services purchased by consumers. The CPI rose by 2.7% compared to August 2026.
In August 2026, the annual inflation rate was 15.7%, indicating a 1.5 percentage point increase in September. The price hike was observed across various categories of goods and services, including food, transportation, housing, and energy. The NISR report highlights that food and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as transportation, recorded significant increases.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages saw a 20.9% increase in prices compared to September 2025, with an additional 5.3% rise from August 2026. Transportation costs surged by 22.4% over the past year and by 0.2% from August to September 2026. Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels also experienced a significant increase of 18.3% compared to the previous year.
Compared to August 2026, housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels increased by 0.1%. The restaurants and hotels category saw a 18.9% rise in prices compared to September 2025 and a 2.8% increase from August 2026. The NISR data also shows that locally produced goods increased by 19.8% compared to September 2025 and by 3.4% from August 2026.
Imported goods, on the other hand, rose by 9.7% over the past year and by 0.5% from August to September 2026. This indicates that locally produced goods experienced a higher price increase compared to imported goods. New goods and energy prices also saw significant hikes, with new goods increasing by 27.9% compared to September 2025 and energy prices rising by 45% over the past year.
Excluding new goods and energy prices, the inflation rate would be 11.4% compared to September 2025 and 1.3% from August 2026. This suggests that new goods and energy prices played a substantial role in the overall price increase. The NISR report highlights that consumer prices in Rwanda continued to rise in September 2026, driven primarily by increases in food, transportation, new goods, and energy.
The ongoing price hikes may have implications for consumers and the overall economy. The Rwandan government and stakeholders will likely be monitoring the situation closely to address potential challenges and mitigate the effects of inflation. The NISR's data provides valuable insights into the country's economic trends and helps inform policy decisions.
Key points
- Rwanda's consumer prices rose 17.2% in September 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
- Food and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as transportation, recorded significant increases in prices.
- Locally produced goods experienced a higher price increase compared to imported goods.
