Tunisia's inflation rate holds at 5.5% in May 2026, food prices see double-digit increases
via Business News6 min read
Tunisia's inflation rate remained at 5.5% in May 2026, consistent with April's figures, according to the National Institute of Statistics INS. This follows a slight increase in inflation during spring, up from 5% in March and February 2026, and 4.8% in January 2026. While the overall inflation trend has been downward over the past two years, food prices continue to experience significant increases. The "Food and beverages" group saw an 8.2% annual rise in May 2026, a rate higher than general inflation. Six food categories recorded double-digit annual price increases in May 2026: lamb meat 21.8%, poultry 15.6%, beef 14.1%, fresh vegetables 12.2%, fresh fish 11.9%, and fresh fruits 11.6%. Other increases include dried fruits 6%, cereal derivatives 5.8%, chocolate and confectionery 5%, and salt and condiments 4.3%. Mineral water, beverages, and juices rose by 3%. Conversely, some prices decreased, with cooking oils down 6.1%, eggs down 4.6%, and dried vegetables down 0.4%. Powdered coffee prices remained stable. Monthly food prices increased by 0.4% in May 2026, primarily driven by a 4.2% rise in meat prices, including lamb and mutton 9.7% and beef 2.3%. This coincides with consumer complaints about high lamb prices ahead of Eid al-Adha. Despite the stabilization of the overall inflation rate, the continued rise in food prices, particularly double-digit increases in several categories, continues to strain household budgets in Tunisia.
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Tunisia's inflation rate remained stable at 5.5% in May 2026, consistent with the April 2026 figure, according to the National Institute of Statistics. This follows a period of fluctuation, with inflation at 5% in March and February 2026, 4.8% in January 2026, and 5.2% in August 2025. A year prior, it was 5.9% in March 2025, 5.7% in February 2025, and 6% in January 2025, peaking at 7% in July 2024. While the overall pace of price increases has slowed, significant rises persist in certain categories, particularly food, which remains a primary concern for Tunisian households. The stability at 5.5% is partly attributed to the consistent 8.2% increase in "Food and beverages" prices, while "Clothing and footwear" saw a slight slowdown from 9.3% in April to 9.1% in May. Conversely, tobacco prices accelerated from 0.4% to 0.8%, and hotel and restaurant services increased from 6.2% to 6.3%. Food products continue to outpace general inflation, with "Food and beverages" prices rising 8.2% year-on-year. Lamb saw the highest increase at 21.8%, followed by poultry at 15.6%, and beef at 14.1%. Fresh vegetables, fresh fish, and fresh fruits also experienced increases exceeding 10%. Other notable increases include dried fruits at 6%, cereal derivatives at 5.8%, chocolate and confectionery at 5%, and salts and condiments at 4.3%. Mineral water, beverages, and juices rose by 3%. In contrast, some items saw price reductions: edible oils decreased by 6.1%, eggs by 4.6%, and dried vegetables by 0
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