Consumer Prices in Belize Up 1.2% in July

The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) has reported that consumer prices rose by 1.2 percent in July 2025 compared to the same month last year, with food, rental costs, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) identified as the main drivers of inflation.

According to the SIB’s latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, the All-Items CPI stood at 120.4, up from 118.9 in July 2024. The increase was fuelled largely by higher prices in the “Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages” and “Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels” categories.

Food-related costs were up by 2 percent, with non-alcoholic beverages rising 7.8 percent. Purified water climbed 10.7 percent, fruit and vegetable juices 11.7 percent, and soft drinks 7.7 percent. Staple foods such as bread and bakery products increased 1.7 percent, while meats saw a 3 per cent hike. Beef steak prices jumped nearly 10 per cent, pork chops 8.1 percent, and stew pork 10.4 per cent.

Housing and utilities rose 2.6 percent, mainly due to rising rental costs. LPG recorded a significant increase, with the average price of a hundred-pound cylinder up by $11.93, from $118.16 in July 2024 to $130.09 in July 2025.

Transport costs declined by 2 per cent, primarily reflecting lower fuel prices. Diesel fell by 70 cents to $11.34 per gallon, regular gasoline dropped by 69 cents to $11.86, and premium gasoline decreased by 60 cents to $13.22. However, intercity taxi fares climbed sharply, up 11.5 per cent year-on-year.

The “Restaurants and Accommodation Services” category recorded a 2.7 percent increase, while personal care products such as deodorants, lotions, and perfumes pushed the “Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services” category up 3.3 percent.

Meanwhile, the “Information and Communication” category decreased by 1.6 percent due to lower prices for mobile phones.

San Pedro Town recorded the highest inflation at 3.1 percent, driven by higher food, beverage, housing, and personal care costs. Independence Village, on the other hand, saw a 0.9 percent decline in consumer prices, with residents benefiting from lower costs for food items, clothing, furniture, and alcoholic beverages.

On a month-to-month basis, overall consumer prices increased by 0.6 percent between June and July 2025, with fresh vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, and peppers rising by an average of 13.3 percent in just one month.

From January to July 2025, the year-to-date inflation rate stood at 1.4 percent. Food and beverages (2.4 percent), housing and utilities (2.4 percent), and personal care (3.2 percent) accounted for almost 90 percent of the increase. Transport and communication costs, however, declined by 1.4 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively.