Inflation Jumps to 4.6% in June as Fuel, Food, and Utility Costs Squeeze Belizeans
Consumer prices in Belize climbed 4.6 percent in June compared to the same month last year, according to the latest figures from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB). The increase is driven largely by sharply higher fuel costs, rising food prices, and increased utility rates.
The Consumer Price Index, which tracks overall price levels across goods and services, stood at 125.3 in June 2026, up from 119.7 a year earlier. Transport remained the single biggest driver of inflation for the fourth straight month, a title it’s held since March. Combined with food and non-alcoholic beverages and housing-related costs, those three categories accounted for more than three-quarters of the overall price increase. The lone category that didn’t budge was insurance and financial services, which stayed essentially flat.
Transport costs were up 13.6 percent year over year, and the numbers at the pump explain why. Diesel jumped the most, rising from $11.42 to $15.33 per gallon, an increase of nearly $4. Premium gasoline climbed from $13.21 to $15.55, and regular gasoline rose from $11.56 to $13.78. On top of that, passenger transport, buses, taxis, and international airfares, got 15.5 percent more expensive.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose 3.2 percent for the month. Sugar saw the sharpest jump of any grocery item tracked, up nearly 18 percent, from $1.22 to $1.49 a pound. Other notable increases hit the cart hard: cucumbers rose 18.6 percent, tomatoes climbed 15.4 percent, ground beef rose over 10 percent, and whole fish, turkey, and grapes all posted gains above 8 percent. Instant coffee prices jumped nearly 14 percent.
Not everything went up, though. Shoppers caught a break on onions, black beans, plantains, okra, and carrots, all of which got cheaper compared to last June.
The housing, water, electricity, gas, and fuels category rose 3.9 percent, largely due to higher electricity and water tariffs that took effect earlier this year. A 100-pound cylinder of liquefied petroleum gas rose nearly $10, from $128.46 to $138.35. Rising home rental costs added further pressure to this category.
The health category posted the second-highest inflation rate of any sector at 7.0 percent, driven by higher hospitalization and surgery fees. Restaurant and café prices rose 3.4 percent, and clothing and footwear costs increased 3.3 percent on higher prices for both men’s and women’s garments.
San Ignacio/Santa Elena residents felt the sharpest price increases in the country, with a local inflation rate of 6.0 percent, driven by higher costs across transport, groceries, electricity, rent, medical services, dining, and clothing. San Pedro Town fared best, posting the smallest increase nationally at 3.4 percent, thanks to comparatively lower increases in sea fares, dining, LPG, and medical costs.