A. M. 
Inflation in El Salvador registered a monthly increase of 0.08% in january 2026 compared to december 2025, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) released by the Banco Central de Reserva (BCR). The indicator rose from 130.89 points to 131 points, reflecting slight upward pressure on prices at the beginning of the year.
The increase is calculated based on the variation between the two months. Although this is a moderate adjustment, it marks a change compared to December 2025, when the index had shown a slight slowdown, falling from the 131.41 points recorded in november.
Sectors that drove the increase
According to data published by the BCR, the monthly increase was mainly influenced by several items related to everyday consumption. The sectors with the largest increases include:
Restaurants and hotels: +0.47% (from 165.03 to 165.8)
Miscellaneous goods and services: +0.45% (from 129.34 to 129.93)
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco: +0.33% (from 177.7 to 178.29)
Housing, water, electricity, gas, and fuels: +0.28% (from 148.46 to 148.87)
Food and non-alcoholic beverages: +0.26% (from 155.38 to 155.78)
The greatest impact came from the restaurant and hotel sector, which registered the highest change for the month. Increases in food and in services related to housing and energy, categories that have a significant weight in household spending, also contributed to the increase.
Sectors that moderated inflation
Not all sectors showed increases. Some sectors helped contain the overall rise:
Transportation: -1.32% (from 110.53 to 109.08)
Furniture and household goods: -0.04% (from 111.88 to 111.83)
Transportation showed the most significant drop, which partially offset the increases in food and services. This reduction contributed to a result of a slight increase rather than a more pronounced one.
Sectors with minimal variations
Other sectors maintained relative stability. Clothing rose 0.10%, health 0.15%, recreation and culture 0.15%, while communications showed no variation (0.00%). The education sector remained unchanged since july 2025.
Overall Overview
Compared to december 2025, january 2026 shows a slight increase in inflation, driven mainly by increases in restaurants, food, and basic services, according to data from the Central Reserve Bank. However, the drop in transportation costs helped to balance the overall performance of the index.
With a monthly growth of just 0.08%, the beginning of 2026 reflects contained inflation, although increases in frequently consumed items could have a direct effect on household budgets.
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