The cost of goods and services, as measured by the Urban Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose by 6.3 per cent year-over-year in February 2025, up from 4.9 per cent in February 2024, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics Rwanda (NISR). ALSO READ: Central bank maintains key interest rate at 6.5% The annual average inflation rate, which tracks price changes over the year, stood at 5.1 per cent and it increased by 0.7 per cent on monthly basis. In February, prices of foodstuff and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 4.5 per cent, while that of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels increased by 2.9 per cent. Transport increased by 17.4 per cent and ‘restaurants and hotels’ increased by 11.6 per cent. CPI is calculated based on approximately 1,622 products across 12 urban centers in Rwanda, including shops, markets, hospitals, schools, among other observation places. Last month, the National Bank of Rwanda’s (BNR) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) maintained its key interest rate at 6.5 per cent, aiming to sustain efforts to curb consumer price increases. The decision was based on expectations that inflation will remain within the target range of 2 per cent to 8 per cent in 2025. The central bank has kept its policy rate unchanged since August last year.
