Mbabane- The Central Statistical Office has reported that inflation in the Kingdom of Eswatini eased to 2.3 percent in December 2025 compared with the same month in 2024, reflecting continued moderation in price pressures across the economy.
The Consumer Price Index report released this week showed no change in overall prices between November and December 2025, with month-on-month inflation recorded at 0.0 percent.
Goods inflation stood at 2.3 percent, while services inflation was slightly higher at 2.5 percent. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels contributed the most to annual inflation, accounting for 1.1 percentage points. Clothing and footwear, along with education, each contributed 0.3 percentage points.
On a year-on-year basis, restaurants and hotels saw a sharp decline of 5.3 percent, driven by lower accommodation and meal costs at restaurants and cafés. Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose slightly by 0.3 percent, reflecting slower price movements in items such as bread, cereals, soft drinks and fruit juices. Alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics increased by 4.2 percent, with growth slowing for beer and wine.
Month-on-month changes showed mixed trends across categories. Prices in restaurants and hotels rose by 0.8 percent between November and December, while furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance fell by 0.7 percent due to lower prices for appliances and textiles. Clothing and footwear increased by 0.4 percent, reflecting a slower upward movement.
The CSO said the December results indicate stable price conditions at the end of 2025, supported by subdued food inflation and falling prices in selected service categories.
Discussion about this post