DANE reported May annual inflation at 5.84 percent, driven by housing and food. The figure marks the highest level since August 2024 and the third straight month of increases.
According to the National Administrative Department of Statistics, the consumer price index rose 0.47 percent in the month and accumulated 4.36 percent so far this year. The divisions with the largest annual increases were restaurants and hotels at 9.62 percent, health at 8.35 percent and education at 7.58 percent. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, together with food and non-alcoholic beverages, accounted for about 4.69 percentage points of the annual result. Bruce Mac Master, president of ANDI, said the country is moving “with great solidity toward higher inflation” and that the rise affects the vulnerable most. The figure exceeded some financial entities’ forecasts of up to 6.02 percent and stands above the 5.68 percent recorded in April.