Rwanda’s inflation rose to 14.5% in July 2026, as households faced higher costs for transport, housing, energy and food.
The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda said consumer prices were 14.5% higher than in July 2025, with some of the sharpest increases recorded in essential goods and services.
Transport costs jumped 24.2% year-on-year, while housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels increased by 21%. Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 13.1%.
Restaurants and accommodation services were 14.2% more expensive, while alcoholic beverages and tobacco increased by 9.8%.
The July figures show that inflationary pressure is increasingly concentrated in areas that directly affect household budgets and business costs.
Higher transport and energy prices can also feed into the wider economy by increasing the cost of moving goods, running businesses and delivering services, with some of those costs eventually passed on to consumers.
For households whose incomes have not risen at the same pace, the 14.5% inflation rate represents a significant squeeze on purchasing power as the cost of basic goods and services continues to rise.
