🇹🇳TunisiaNorth Africa
Tunisia's inflation rate holds at 5.5% in May amid persistent food price pressures
via Business News5 min read
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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Must ReadTunisia'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.
Videos circulating on social media show a significant increase in jellyfish on Tunisian beaches, leading to concerns about their impact on marine life and the upcoming tourist season. Some reports link this proliferation to the decline of natural predators like tuna and sea turtles. The presence of the Portuguese Man O' War, a venomous marine organism often mistaken for a jellyfish, has also caused alarm among beachgoers. While jellyfish observations are not new in Tunisia, specialists from the National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies INSTM have noted their regular appearance. INSTM researchers clarify that the Portuguese Man O' War is not a true jellyfish but a siphonophore, with its presence on Tunisian coasts primarily due to winds and marine currents from the Atlantic. However, scientists attribute the overall increase in jellyfish to marine ecosystem degradation, including overfishing, rising water temperatures, and increasing marine pollution. The decline of fish species due to overfishing reduces predators and competitors for jellyfish, promoting their growth. Sea turtles, which prey on jellyfish, face threats such as accidental capture, habitat destruction, light pollution, and plastic pollution, often mistaking plastic bags for food. Marine pollution, including plastic waste, untreated wastewater, and industrial discharges, disrupts marine habitats, weakens species, and reduces biodiversity, allowing opportunistic species like jellyfish to thrive. This
Must ReadThe national administrative body of the Tunisian General Labor Union UGTT met on Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Tunis, focusing on the deterioration of purchasing power, the stagnation of social dialogue, and rising tensions across various sectors. The union expressed full support for the announced strike in the banking sector, protesting the exclusion of banking agents from salary increases planned for 2025. The UGTT views this exclusion as undermining collective bargaining and social dialogue, which it considers essential for preventing tensions and ensuring stable professional relations. The organization also called for salary negotiations in the private sector for 2025, criticizing the government and some employers for failing to honor social commitments. The UGTT highlighted the continuous decline in the purchasing power of employees, retirees, and a large portion of the population, attributing it to rising prices, speculation, and insufficient measures to protect citizens from the cost of living. The union warned that the lack of concrete responses to salary demands could further fuel social discontent. Furthermore, the UGTT criticized the non-application of several sectoral, regional, and collective agreements, and denounced an increase in tensions within public and private companies, citing abusive dismissals, harassment, and targeting of workers and union members. The union also raised concerns about the deteriorating quality of public services, including health, educati
Must ReadA video depicting the assault of sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia has sparked widespread controversy. The footage shows men entering a residence occupied by migrants, with a visibly distressed, partially undressed pregnant woman pleading with her attackers, while other migrants appear terrified. Individuals can be heard laughing, insulting, and shouting commands like "get them out" in Tunisian dialect. The video's circulation led to outrage online, with many condemning the humiliating acts. However, some publications attempted to discredit the video, claiming it was fabricated to harm Tunisia's image, suggesting it was filmed in Sudan with an added Tunisian soundtrack. These claims were supported by a screenshot of a search result linking the video to a humorous Sudanese content titled "Tamboul Tembelet Belil." A thorough verification of the video, analyzing both visual and audio elements, found no evidence of artificial sound addition; the movements and speech align perfectly. The visual content, showing a crying, shocked pregnant woman and terrified migrants, contradicts any notion of a humorous or festive scene. Furthermore, comparisons confirmed that the video in question is distinct from the Sudanese "Tamboul Tembelet Belil" content. The argument that the video is fake, based on a search result, is a misinterpretation. The verification concludes that the video is not a fabrication, and the images and sound are coherent, depicting a real scene. While the exact date and loc