Consumer prices in the Maldives declined by 1.15 per cent in August compared with July, according to data released by the Maldives Bureau of Statistics (MBS), with lower electricity and air transport prices contributing to the monthly reduction. The decline offers some relief for household budgets, although price increases in several food and service categories continued to affect everyday spending.
Electricity prices fell by 3.21 per cent during the month, while air transport prices decreased by 2.80 per cent. Tobacco products recorded a sharper decline of 25.45 per cent. Together, these reductions helped bring down the national Consumer Price Index (CPI), despite increases elsewhere in the consumer basket.
On an annual basis, the national CPI remained 0.76 per cent higher than in August last year. The figures show that while consumer prices eased compared with the previous month, the overall price level was still above its year-earlier level. This distinction provides an important perspective on household purchasing power, as a monthly decline does not necessarily reverse price increases accumulated over a longer period.
Several commonly purchased food items became more expensive in August. Egg prices increased by 1.99 per cent, while fruit and vegetable prices rose by 1.19 per cent. Fish and seafood products recorded a smaller increase of 0.83 per cent. These changes indicate that households continued to face upward pressure on parts of their regular grocery expenditure, even as the broader index declined.
Price movements across services were also mixed. Communication services became 2.23 per cent more expensive, while health service prices increased by 0.99 per cent. Restaurants and other food service establishments recorded a rise of 0.68 per cent, reflecting a modest increase in the cost of eating outside the home.
Within the accommodation sector, guesthouse prices rose by 2.72 per cent. The increase contrasts with the reduction in air transport prices, illustrating how different components of travel expenditure can move in opposing directions within the same month. For travellers considering guesthouse stays, the overall effect on their budgets would depend on the combination of accommodation, transport and dining costs. The guesthouse figure relates specifically to that accommodation category and does not establish a corresponding change in resort prices.
The geographical breakdown showed that consumer prices declined in both Malé and the atolls, although the reduction was more pronounced in the capital. Malé’s CPI fell by 1.57 per cent compared with July, while the atolls recorded a decline of 0.54 per cent. The difference highlights the importance of examining regional price movements alongside the national average to understand how changes are experienced across communities.
The CPI measures changes in the prices of goods and services commonly consumed by households. MBS collects prices for more than 9,500 goods and services each month across Malé and the atolls, providing a regular statistical basis for tracking inflation and changes in living costs.
August’s figures present an encouraging monthly easing in overall consumer prices, alongside continued increases in selected essentials and services. The data provides a useful basis for government planning and business decisions, supporting efforts to monitor affordability and understand the cost pressures facing households across the Maldives.
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