Rwanda’s urban consumer price index (CPI), the main measure of inflation, increased by 9.2 per cent in March 2026 compared to the same month last year, unchanged from February. ALSO READ: Inflation rose 9.2% in February - NISR On a monthly basis, prices rose by 1.3 per cent. The annual average inflation rate between March 2025 and March 2026 stood at 7.6 per cent. Data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda show that food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 4.1 per cent on an annual basis and by 1.9 per cent compared to February. ALSO READ: Central Bank governor flags potential rise in inflation Prices of alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics increased by 17.8 per cent year on year, while housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels went up by 14.6 per cent, with a monthly rise of 2.2 per cent. Health recorded the sharpest annual increase at 71 per cent, though it rose slightly by 0.1 per cent on a monthly basis. Transport prices increased by 7.8 per cent year on year and 0.6 per cent month on month, while restaurants and hotels recorded a 19.4 per cent annual increase and a 1.9 per cent monthly rise. ALSO READ: Inflation rises by 8.9% in January Other indices show that prices of local goods increased by 9.4 per cent over the year and by 1.7 per cent compared to February, while imported goods rose by 8.7 per cent annually and 0.3 per cent monthly. Fresh products increased by 4.1 per cent year on year and 2.5 per cent month on month. Energy prices rose by 25.5 per cent on an annual basis and by 5.2 per cent compared to the previous month. The general index excluding fresh products and energy increased by 9.4 per cent year on year and by 0.6 per cent on a monthly basis. At the national level, the overall Rwanda CPI increased by 7.7 per cent on an annual basis and by 1.7 per cent month on month, while rural inflation stood at 6.7 per cent annually and 1.9 per cent monthly.
