Port-au-Prince, June 24, 2026.- After several months of slowdown, inflation recovered upwards in Haiti in the month of April 2026. According to the latest data from the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH), annual inflation reached 21 per cent, compared to 20.6 per cent in March, while monthly inflation accelerated sharply to 3.4 per cent, compared with only 0.8 per cent the previous month. This increase is mainly attributed to the increase in oil prices, which has resulted in an increase in the cost of transport and several essential goods and services.
The monthly note on inflation published by BRH highlights a reversal of the disinflationary trend observed since the beginning of fiscal year 2025-2026. Consumer price developments were particularly marked in the transport sector, where the index grew by 25.5% month-on-month and by 30.3% year-on-year, making this category the main engine of inflation recorded in April.
The impact of transport quickly spread to other expenditure items. Prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 2.2%, while prices for housing, water, gas, electricity and fuel rose by 2.8%. Restaurants also registered a 3% increase. Transport, food and housing alone accounted for more than 94% of monthly inflation during the period.
According to BRH, this inflationary surge is mainly the result of the upward revision of fuel prices on April 2, 2026, with increases ranging from 29.5% to 37.4% depending on the product. This decision was influenced by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have put upward pressure on world oil prices.
The analysis by region shows that price acceleration has affected the entire national territory. The metropolitan area recorded monthly inflation of 3.5%, followed by the Rest West and the Transversal region with 3.4%, the South with 3.3% and the North with 3.1%. Annually, inflation remains the highest in the metropolitan area and the West Rest, where it reached 21.6%.
On the other hand, inflation of local products rose slightly to 21.6%, while that of imported products rose to 20%, reflecting continued pressure on production and supply costs.
Despite this rise in prices, BRH anticipates a gradual slowdown in monthly inflation over the coming months, notably thanks to the fall in pump prices in May 2026. The institution's forecasts are based on 2.6% monthly inflation in May, 2% in June and 1.7% in July. On an annual basis, however, inflation is expected to remain high, ranging from 21.3% to 21.7% during this period.
This development recalls the vulnerability of the Haitian economy to international energy shocks and highlights the persistent challenges faced by households, facing a continuous rise in the cost of living.
W.A.
