The cost of goods and services, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), continued to rise in March this year, with urban prices increasing by 6.5 per cent compared to the same month last year. According to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), the rise in consumer prices in March was due to a peak in prices of food and beverages, transport, as well as hotels and restaurants. Food and non-alcoholic beverages prices saw a 6.4 per cent rise, transport prices rose by 12 per cent, while prices of restaurant and hotel services increased by 14.1 per cent. ALSO READ: Consumer prices rose 6.3% in February Claude Mwizerwa, Economic Statistics Manager at NISR, attributed the rise to the depletion of stocks from agricultural season A runoff, adding that transportation costs have gone up mainly due to an increase in fuel prices and bus tickets compared to March 2024 “The increase is still within the normal range, below 8%. However, we are seeing a notable rise in food prices, particularly for meat products, and a mild increase in vegetable prices when comparing March and February 2025,” he said. Rural areas saw a 3.9 per cent year-on-year increase in inflation and a 2.2 per cent rise from February to March. The annual average inflation rate stood at 5.3 per cent as of March 2025. Core inflation (excluding fresh food and energy) rose 5.8 per cent year-on-year and 0.7 per cent month-on-month. ALSO READ: Consumer prices increased by 7.4% in January Consumer prices for local goods increased by 6.7 per cent year-on-year, while imported goods rose 6.1per cent. Fresh products recorded the highest jump at 11.3 per cent, whereas energy prices declined by 1.1 per cent. On a monthly basis, prices for local goods rose 1.6 per cent, imported goods increased 0.6 per cent, fresh products surged 3.4 per cent, energy prices went up 0.6 per cent, and core index (excluding fresh food and energy) climbed 0.7 per cent.
