🇹🇳TunisiaNorth Africa
Tunisian economist warns of accelerating inflation and declining purchasing power amidst geopolitical tensions
via Business News4 min read
Economist Ridha Chkoundali warned on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, about a shift in Tunisia's inflation trend and the risks posed by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which could further increase prices. While the annual inflation rate remained stable at 5.5% in May 2026, matching April's figure, Chkoundali highlighted a concerning change in trajectory. In 2025, inflation showed a downward trend, but in 2026, it rose from 4.8% in January to 5.5% in May, indicating renewed inflationary pressures. Chkoundali stated that the full impact of the Middle East geopolitical crisis is not yet reflected in current statistics. He anticipates that Tunisia could face imported inflation in the coming months due to disruptions in global energy and raw material markets. Tunisia's economy relies heavily on imported raw materials and intermediate goods, primarily from Europe. Rising energy costs directly affect production costs, fueling domestic inflation. He also pointed to risks from disruptions in maritime transport, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, which could impact the supply of fertilizers and agricultural inputs. Tunisia imports nitrogen fertilizers, whose production depends on natural gas, and ammonia for phosphate fertilizers, much of which comes from Gulf countries via the Strait of Hormuz. Increased costs or supply difficulties would raise farmers' expenses, potentially leading to reduced fertilizer use or decreased production, further increasing agricultural product prices. C
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
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