Freetown, 29th September 2026 – Sierra Leone’s inflationary pressures intensified in August, with headline consumer price inflation climbing to 15.66 percent, up from 14.89 percent in July, according to the latest figures released by Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL).
The monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed a sharp increase of 2.19 percent, compared to just 0.42 percent in July, reflecting renewed price growth across key expenditure categories.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation edged slightly higher to 5.82 percent in August, from 5.74 percent in July, offering limited relief to households. However, non-food inflation surged to 23.54 percent, up from 22.11 percent, underscoring rising costs in housing, utilities, transport, and health services.
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels recorded one of the steepest increases, jumping from 83.72 percent in July to 87.73 percent in August. Transport inflation also accelerated, rising from 37.04 percent to 41.49 percent. Health services inflation moved up to 11.75 percent, while furnishings and household equipment climbed to 6.38 percent.
At the regional level, the Western Area continued to report the highest inflation at 24.12 percent, followed by the Northern Region at 16.77 percent. The Eastern Region registered 10.07 percent, while inflation eased in the Southern Region to 4.25 percent and in the North-West Region to 1.82 percent.
Stats SL noted that housing and utilities, transport, and food remained the three biggest contributors to the August inflation rate. “A double-digit inflation rate has now been recorded for six straight months since March 2025,” the report stated, highlighting the persistence of price pressures despite relatively stable food costs.
While the uptick in monthly inflation signals renewed volatility, the continued rise in non-food categories points to ongoing challenges for households and policymakers. Analysts warn that sustained high costs in housing, energy, and transport could erode consumer purchasing power and complicate economic recovery efforts.
