Preliminary official data released this week confirms that Suriname’s annual inflation rate reached 11.4% in May 2026, according to the country’s Central Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The latest consumer price tracking also shows that overall consumer prices rose by a monthly average of 1.3% between April 2026 and May 2026, pushing the national Consumer Price Index (CPI) up from 947.4 points in April to 960.0 points at the end of the measurement period.
ABS collected all price data for the May report between May 4 and May 29, 2026. When breaking down monthly price shifts across categories, the communications sector recorded the largest proportional jump, with prices climbing 14.4% over April’s levels. Fresh produce also saw dramatic monthly growth: fruit and vegetable prices rose 16.3% in May alone, pushing the annual increase for this essential consumer category to 32.5% year-over-year.
Other food categories also posted noticeable monthly upticks. Prices for fish, seafood and shrimp rose 2.9% compared to April, while soft drinks, bottled water and juices saw an identical 2.9% monthly increase. Other general food goods recorded a 2.5% monthly price hike in May.
On an annual basis, the most staggering price growth has hit healthcare services. Medical and paramedic services have surged 124.2% since May 2025, far outpacing all other measured categories. Other sectors with double-digit annual inflation include communications equipment and services (17.5%), out-of-home beverages (17%), pet care supplies and services (15.5%), and processed fish products (14%).
ABS officials emphasize that the headline 11.4% average inflation rate does not reflect uniform price growth across all consumer goods and services. Out of the 316 goods and services included in the national CPI basket, price movements in May ranged from a 39% price decrease to an extreme 600% price increase, demonstrating widespread unevenness in cost pressures across the Surinamese economy.
The 12-month moving average inflation rate, which smooths out short-term monthly volatility by comparing the average of the last 12 months to the preceding 12-month period, hit 10.7% in May. This result extends a gradual upward trend in average inflation that has been observed across Suriname over recent months.