Bahamas’ February inflation up 2.7% year-on-year

• On an annual basis, inflation in The Bahamas remained elevated up to February 2026, with consumer prices rising 2.7% compared to February 2025. Month over month (between January and February), inflation increased by 0.95%, driven primarily by increases in housing, utility and transportation costs, according to data from the Bahamas National Statistical Institute’s (BNSI) Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for February 2026.
• The increase marked a reversal from the slight decline recorded at the start of the year, and signals continued upward pressure on household expenses. “The monthly inflation rate in The Bahamas increased by 0.95% in February 2026 compared to January 2026, reflecting changes in the average prices of goods and services purchased by consumers during the period. This follows a decrease of 0.1% recorded between December 2025 and January 2026.
• The CPI, which measures changes in the prices consumers pay for goods and services, showed the largest month-over-month increases occurred in the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels category, which rose 2.7%. Transportation costs increased by 0.6%, while health-related expenses climbed 0.5% during the month.
• The BNSI revealed that restaurants and hotels recorded the largest annual increase at 17.1%, reflecting continued price pressures in sectors closely tied to tourism and hospitality activity. It also reported that the furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance category increased by 8.5% year-over-year, while housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels rose 5.1%.
• In contrast, alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics declined by 5.1%, compared to February 2025.
• This latest inflation data comes as policymakers continue to monitor cost-of-living pressures facing Bahamian households in the midst of the war in the Middle East and other geopolitical tensions.

(Source: The Nassau Guardian)