Electricity Prices Surge in latest Consumer Price Index report

Electricity prices in Antigua and Barbuda surged over the 12 months ending June 2026, helping to push the country’s annual inflation rate to 3.7%, according to the latest Consumer Price Index report.

The Statistics Division said the sharp rise in electricity costs followed an increase in the fuel variation rate from 56 cents in June 2025 to 80 cents in June 2026.

Energy prices rose 20.6% overall during the period, while the broader housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels category increased 8.5%.

Despite the higher cost of living, annual inflation eased from the 4.1% recorded in May.

Consumer prices rose 0.6% between May and June, largely reflecting another increase in energy costs.

The energy index climbed 7.6% during June, while electricity prices increased 14.3% after the fuel variation rate moved from 70 cents to 80 cents.

Food and nonalcoholic beverage prices were 1.7% higher than a year earlier. Fish and seafood prices increased 8.5%, vegetables rose 4.4%, and oils and fats climbed 3.2%.

However, fruit prices declined 9.2%, while meat prices fell 4.8%.

Other notable annual increases included recreation and culture at 30.2%, education at 13.3%, transport services at 10.3%, and restaurants and hotels at 4.5%.

Prices declined in four of the 12 main spending categories, including clothing and footwear, health, and miscellaneous goods and services.

READ MORE: The Statistics Division, under the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Governance releases the CPI for Jun 2026

Year-on-YearAnalysis

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.7% for the twelve months ending June 2026, after rising 4.1% for the twelve months ending May 2026. The increased in the All Items Inflation rate was largely attributed to a 20.6% increase in the Energy index ending the twelve months June 2026. The Electricity index a component of the Energy index increased 42.9% over the twelve months in which the Fuel variation rate rose from 0.56 cents to

0.80 cents.

The Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages index increased 1.7% over the last year. The Food index rose 1.6% and represented 81.9% of the overall increase in the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages index. The Fish and Seafood index rose 8.5% over the last twelve months while index for Vegetables recorded the second largest increase of 4.4% over the same period. The index for Oils and Fats rose by 3.2%. The Food Products N.E.C index increased 1.9% over the twelve months ending June 2026. In contrast, the index for Fruits and Meats fell 9.2% and 4.8% respectively.

The All-Items Less Food and Energy index increased by 2.5% following 3.7% increase over the twelve months ending May 2026. . The index for Actual Rentals for Housing increased 3.1% over the last year. Other indexes with notable increases over the last year include Recreation and Culture (30.2%), Transport Services (+10.3%), Education (+13.3), and Restaurants and Hotels (+4.5%).

Month-to-Month Price Changes

The monthly Consumer Price Index increased 0.6% in June 2026. The Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages index rose 0.9% over the month of May 2026.

The Food index increased by 0.1% in June after rising 1.6% in May. Five of the nine major supermarkets food group indexes increased in June. The Bread and Cereals Index increased 1.6% in June, and the Oils and Fats index rose 1.4%. In contrast, the index for Milk, Cheese and Eggs fell 2.8% in June as the index for Preserved Milk and Other Milk Products declined 5.2%.

The index for Energy rose 7.6% in June after rising 13.0% in May. The index for Electricity rose 14.3% in June as fuel variation rate increased from 0.70 cents to 0.80 cents.

The index for All Items Less Food and Energy declined 0.1% in June 2026 after declining 0.9% in May. The index for Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics declined 0.5% over the month. The index for Actual Rentals for Housing declined 0.1% after rising 0.6% in May.

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Methodology

What is the consumer price index (CPI) measuring and how is it done?

The All Items Consumer Price Index (CPI) is the main measure of what is commonly called inflation, or headline inflation. It measures the change in prices, on average, from month to month, and from year to year of the goods and services bought by most households.

Prices are collected monthly and quarterly from supermarkets and other suppliers of goods and services. The pattern of household expenditure on these goods and services is derived from a regular household budget (or expenditure) survey (HBS). The prices and spending patterns (known as weights) are then combined to calculate the price indices for groups of goods and services and for the All Items index. These indices are based on expenditure patterns in 2006.

The All Items (or overall) index, with all of its twelve (12) component indices, is published each month.

For a detailed account of the methodology used in calculating the CPI, please call the National Bureau of Statistics.

Copies of the CPI for Jun 2026 can be accessed on the National Bureau of Statistics website www.statistics.gov.ag

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