BNSI: Inflation Increase Linked to Rising Cost of Clothing, Transport, and Health

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – If you think you’ve been paying more for goods, you have.

The latest inflation figures from the Bahamas National Statistical Institute are out, showing prices increased again in March.

The rising cost of clothing, transport and health care helped drive a 0.35 percent increase in inflation in March compared to the previous month.

The latest figures were revealed in the Bahamas National Statistical Institute’s Consumer Price Index report for March 2026.

The report measures the overall change in prices paid by consumers.

The increase continues a trend seen this year, with inflation rising by 0.95 percent between January and February 2026, according to the BNSI.

The report also shows that, on a month-to-month basis from February to March, the largest increases were recorded in clothing and footwear, which rose 2.7 percent, transport, which increased 1.8 percent, and health, which rose 0.5 percent.

In contrast, the largest decrease was recorded in furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance.

On a year-over-year basis, the Consumer Price Index for March 2026 increased 3.1 percent compared with March 2025.

The main categories contributing to that annual increase were restaurants and hotels, up 17.6 percent; furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, up 8.5 percent; and housing and utilities, up 4.4 percent.

When it comes to prices at the pump, the petroleum and diesel index also recorded month-over-month increases in March 2026, with gasoline prices rising 5.4 percent and diesel prices increasing 6.4 percent compared with February.

As rising prices continue to be a trend this year, the Davis administration has pointed to global pressures as the primary driver of inflation, while the opposition argues government policies and tax measures have made the cost-of-living crisis worse.