Durrant Pate/Contributor

Jamaica’s point-to-point inflation rate for May was lowered by 0.1 percentage points over April’s 5.3% but still within the target range of 4%-6%.

The All-Jamaica point-to-point inflation for May 2024 to May 2025 was +5.2%; 0.1 percentage points lower than the 5.3% recorded between April 2024 to April 2025. Compared to April 2025, the All-Jamaica Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.4% in May 2025.

The main driver of the monthly increase (0.4%) was a 1.5% rise in the index for the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division, primarily due to higher electricity rates. In addition, a 0.9% rise in the ‘Restaurant and Accommodation Services’ division, driven by increased prices for meals consumed away from home, contributed to the overall rise. 

Movements within ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division 

The rise in the index for the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division was primarily due to an 18.3% increase in the ‘Fruits and Nuts’ category and an 8.7% rise in the ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses’ category. Specifically, prices went up for ripe bananas, oranges, watermelons, and dried coconuts in the ‘Fruits and Nuts’ category.

At the same time, ‘vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses’ category saw higher prices for yellow yam, green bananas, ripe plantains, and tomatoes. The increase in the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels’ division was mainly driven by an 8.2% rise in the ‘Imputed Rentals for Housing’ group and a 6.4% increase in the ‘Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels’ group. 

These increases were due to higher household rent and electricity rates, respectively. In the ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ division, the primary factor for the 7.1% increase was higher prices for food purchased away from home. This led to a 6.2% rise in the index for the ‘Food and Beverage Serving Services’ group.

Movements in other divisions

The index for the ‘Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics’ division rose by 0.3%. The increase was due to a 0.4% rise in the index of the ‘Alcoholic Beverages’ group. Within this group, there were increases in the index of all three classes: ‘Spirits and liquors’ (0.4%), ‘Wine’ (0.1%)and ‘Beer’ (0.4%).

The index for the ‘Clothing and Footwear’ division increased by 0.2%. There was a 0.2% rise in the index of the ‘Clothing’ group, while the ‘Footwear’ group saw a 0.1% increase in its index. The index for the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division rose by 1.5%, mainly due to a 4.4% increase in the ‘Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels’ group, driven by higher electricity rates. 

This increase was further supported by a 0.2% increase in the ‘Water Supply and Miscellaneous Services relating to the Dwelling’ group, resulting from higher water supply rates. The ‘Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance’ division rose by 0.1%, primarily due to a 0.1% rise in the ‘Goods and Services for Routine Household Maintenance’ group, driven by higher prices for household cleaning agents. 

Additional contributions came from increases in the ‘Furniture, Furnishings, and Loose Carpets’ (0.1%), ‘Household Textiles’ (0.1%), and ‘Household Appliances’ (0.4%) groups. The index for the ‘Health’ division increased by 0.4%. 

This rise was primarily driven by a 0.5% increase in the ‘Medicines and Health Products’ group, due to higher prices for vitamins and some prescribed medicines. Additionally, the ‘Outpatient Care Services’ group saw a 0.3% increase.

The index for the ‘Transport’ division increased by 0.1%, primarily driven by a 0.5% rise in the ‘Operation of Personal Transport Equipment’ group, due largely to higher prices for petrol and motor vehicle parts. The index for ‘Recreation, Sport and Culture’ division increased by 0.1%. 

This rise was mainly driven by a 0.1% increase in the group ‘Newspapers, Books and Stationery’ due to increased prices for stationery items.

The index for ‘Education’ division increased by 0.8%. This rise was attributable to higher tuition fees for the summer term for private schools at the primary level.

The index for the ‘Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services’ division rose by 0.3%. This increase was primarily due to higher prices for personal care products.