The Statistics Division under the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Governance has reported a further decline in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for May 2025, reflecting a continued easing in overall inflationary pressures.
According to the report, the CPI for the twelve months ending May 2025 fell by 0.6 percent, following a 1.2 percent decline in April. Similarly, the index for All Items Less Food and Energy dropped by 1.4 percent over the same period. These decreases were largely attributed to falling prices in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, transport, and household furnishings and maintenance.
The Food Index, however, recorded a modest year-on-year increase of 0.5 percent, marking a slowdown compared to previous months. The rise was mainly driven by higher prices in fish and seafood (+3.8%), meats and meat products (+3.6%), and bread and cereals (+3.5%). On the other hand, significant declines were observed in vegetables (-2.0%), milk, cheese and eggs (-4.1%), and oils and fats (-8.2%), which offset some of the upward movement.
Month-to-month changes also showed mixed results. In May, the overall CPI decreased by 0.6 percent compared to April. The Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Index fell by 0.3 percent, with six of the nine major supermarket food groups recording declines. Notable decreases came from milk, cheese and eggs (-3.1%), bread and cereals (-2.5%), and vegetables (-1.0%). In contrast, meats and meat products rose by 3.4 percent and fish and seafood increased by 1.1 percent.
Non-alcoholic beverages saw a rise of 1.5 percent, fueled largely by a 5.7 percent jump in fruit and vegetable juices. Meanwhile, the All Items Less Food and Energy index declined by 0.7 percent for the month, driven mainly by a 5.1 percent drop in actual rentals for housing. Despite the overall decline, increases were recorded in transport services and alcoholic beverages and narcotics.
The Statistics Division emphasized that the CPI remains the key measure of inflation, tracking the average change in prices for goods and services purchased by households. Copies of the full CPI report for May 2025 are available on the Division’s official website at www.statistics.gov.ag.
