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The Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded a 0.33% increase in august 2026 compared to july, rising from 134.55 to 134.99 points, according to data from the Banco Central de Reserva (BCR). The result reflects a moderate rise in the general price level, although trends varied across the different divisions that make up the index.
The largest monthly variation was seen in the transport sector, where the index rose from 118.21 points in july to 119.27 in august, representing a 0.90% increase. This was the highest percentage increase among the CPI divisions during the period analyzed.
The second largest increase was in food and non-alcoholic beverages, which rose from 160.66 to 161.51 points, a monthly variation of 0.53%. This was followed by alcoholic beverages and tobacco, with an index increase from 179.29 to 180.19 points, or 0.50%.
Next came health, with a 0.38% increase (rising from 117.89 to 118.34 points); restaurants and hotels, up 0.32% (from 169.65 to 170.19 points); and miscellaneous goods and services, with a 0.27% increase (from 131.59 to 131.95 points).
An increase, albeit much smaller—was also recorded in the housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels division, where the index rose from 151.63 to 151.65 points, a monthly variation of 0.01%. Overall, these seven divisions showed increases between july and august.
At the other end of the spectrum, three divisions recorded decreases. Recreation and culture fell by 0.13%, moving from 97.23 to 97.10 points; clothing and footwear dropped 0.11%, from 99.89 to 99.78 points; while furniture, household goods, and routine household maintenance showed a 0.02% reduction, moving from 112.44 to 112.42 points.
Meanwhile, communications and education recorded no monthly variation. Communications remained at 79.60 points, with a 0.00% change, while education stayed at 117.07 points, also with a 0.00% change. Thus, the CPI’s performance between july and august was characterized by seven divisions rising, three falling, and two remaining unchanged.
When comparing august 2026 with the same month in 2025, the overall CPI rose from 130.81 to 134.99 points, representing a year-on-year increase of 3.20%. In this comparison, transport once again showed the largest increase at 8.23%, followed by restaurants and hotels at 4.54%, and food and non-alcoholic beverages at 3.65%.
Year-on-year increases were also recorded in recreation and culture (3.30%), health (2.91%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (2.61%), miscellaneous goods and services (2.14%), and housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels (1.89%) and furniture, household goods, and items for routine household maintenance, at 0.54%. In contrast, communications fell by 0.92% and clothing and footwear dropped by 0.32%, while education showed no year-on-year change, at 0.00%.
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