Fresh official data from Antigua and Barbuda’s National Bureau of Statistics confirms that the country’s inflation rate accelerated sharply to 4.1% year-on-year in May 2026, with housing-related expenses and energy prices emerging as the primary catalysts for the upward price shift. Published on June 16, the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the nation’s benchmark metric for tracking household price changes across a fixed basket of consumer goods and services — details the breakdown of cost increases hitting local households.
The most substantial contributor to overall inflation was the broad Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels category, which saw an 8.2% year-on-year jump, accounting for nearly half of the total increase in consumer prices. Within this sector, actual residential rental costs rose by a moderate 6.3%, but energy-related costs surged far more dramatically: electricity, gas and other fuels collectively climbed 21.4% annually, with standalone electricity prices spiking 25% compared to May 2025. The country’s overall Energy Index recorded a 12% 12-month increase, a shift directly tied to a 14-cent hike in the fuel variation charge, which rose from 56 cents to 70 cents over the period.
Food price inflation also remained a persistent pressure on household budgets, with the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages category posting a 2.4% annual increase. The largest drivers of food inflation were uncategorized food products, which rose 8% year-on-year, followed by vegetables, which recorded a 6.3% annual uptick. Beyond housing, energy and food, several other sectors saw double-digit or otherwise notable annual price gains: Recreation and Culture led all categories with a 30.2% surge, followed by Education at 13.3%, Transport Services at 19.6%, and Restaurants and Hotels at 4.5%.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.4% between April and May 2026, a modest uptick that was partially offset by a decline in transport costs even as rising food and energy pushed the overall index higher. Month-over-month, Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages increased 0.9%, while the Energy Index jumped 13% and electricity prices alone surged 27.3% from April. Within the food basket, oils and fats recorded the steepest monthly gain at 7.1%, followed by fruit at 6.7%, meat and meat products at 5.6%, milk, cheese and eggs at 5.2%, and miscellaneous food products at 4.9%.