MBABANE – Eswatini’s inflation rate has cooled further in August 2025, dropping to 2.6 per cent from 2.8 per cent in July, offering relief to consumers amid persistent global price pressures.
According to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the Central Statistical Office (CSO) today, the August figure marks a 0.2 percentage point decline from July and a significant drop from the 4.1 per cent recorded in August 2024.
“The headline inflation rate for August 2025, measured as the annual percentage change in the CPI compared with August 2024, stood at 2.6 per cent,” the report stated.
The CSO revealed that the main contributors to the headline inflation were housing and utilities (1.2 per cent), alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics (0.5 per cent), and food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.3 per cent).
While alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics registered a notable 10.3 per cent year-on-year increase—driven primarily by beer prices—housing and utilities grew 4.2 per cent on the back of rising water and electricity costs.
Conversely, the restaurants and hotels category recorded a sharp slowdown, falling from 25.7 per cent in August 2024 to 1.7 per cent in August 2025, as accommodation prices stabilised.
On a monthly basis, prices fell by 0.1 per cent between July and August, the same decline observed in July. Accommodation services under restaurants and hotels softened further, while miscellaneous goods and services, including personal care products, saw slight price upticks.
Transport prices remained subdued, falling 0.3 per cent year-on-year, largely due to reduced fuel costs. Passenger transport by road remained stable, while air transport prices rose marginally by 4 per cent.
The CSO noted that goods inflation stood at 2.8 per cent, slightly higher than the 2.4 per cent recorded for services.
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