Egypt’s annual headline inflation rose to 12.8% in September 2026 from 12.7% in August, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). Consumer prices climbed 1.5% compared with the previous month, with vegetables accounting for most of the increase.
CAPMAS put the general consumer price index for the country at 294.2 points. Vegetable prices jumped 15.1% month on month, lifting the food and beverages division by 3.2% over the same period. Smaller monthly gains were recorded for fruit at 2.6%, meat and poultry at 2.5% and fish and seafood at 1.2%, while cereals and bread, and milk, cheese and eggs, each rose 0.4%. Outside food, furnishings and household equipment rose 1.2%, and clothing and footwear and the housing and utilities group each added 0.8%. Two categories became cheaper during the month: audio-visual and information-processing equipment fell 1.1% and organised package holidays slipped 0.6%.
Year-on-year figures show where household budgets are under most pressure. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels posted the steepest annual rise at 29.6%, with actual rents up 27.5% and electricity, gas and other fuels up 22.6%. Transport costs were 21.3% higher than a year earlier and education rose 20%, while hospital services increased 18.5%. Restaurants and hotels were 12.8% more expensive and communication costs were up 10.4%. Food and beverages rose a more moderate 7.9% overall, although vegetables were up 30.9% on the year. Milk, cheese and eggs were among the few items to fall, down 1.3%, and medical products, appliances and equipment dropped by the same margin.
The Central Bank of Egypt left its key interest rates unchanged in September, saying its policy was tight enough to keep inflation falling and to cushion the economy against risks linked to regional escalation. Its Monetary Policy Committee said inflationary pressures had continued to ease and that consumer prices had been broadly stable over the previous three months. At its August meeting, the committee had already lowered its inflation outlook after readings came in better than expected.
The bank expects annual headline inflation to remain broadly stable on average in the third quarter of 2026 before easing gradually toward its target of 7%, plus or minus two percentage points, in the second half of 2027. The September figures will be among the data in front of policymakers when the committee next meets on 29 October.
