URGENT: Egypt’s annual inflation eases to 10.1% in Jan – CAPMAS

Egypt’s annual inflation eased to 10.1 per cent in January 2026, down from 10.3 per cent in December 2025. The monthly inflation, however, accelerated to 1.5 per cent. The nationwide consumer price index (CPI) reached 268.1 points, according to data released on Tuesday by the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS).

On a month-on-month basis, food and beverages were the main driver of inflation, rising 2.7 per cent. The increase was led by an 8.5 per cent surge in vegetable prices, a 5.1 per cent rise in meat and poultry, and a 6.7 per cent increase in coffee, tea, and cocoa, despite a 2.5 per cent decline in fruit prices.

Housing-related costs also increased, with the housing, water, electricity, gas, and fuel division up 1.1 per cent, driven by 1.6 per cent higher actual and imputed rents. Health prices rose 0.8 per cent, while household appliance prices fell 0.4 per cent, providing limited relief.

On an annual basis, housing costs rose 23.1 per cent, reflecting a 33.4 per cent increase in imputed rents and an 18.5 per cent rise in electricity, gas, and other fuels. Transport prices increased 20.6 per cent, while health costs climbed 19.4 per cent.

Food and beverages rose 1.5 per cent year on year, as fruit prices increased 8.8 per cent, vegetables rose 6.1 per cent, and fish and seafood climbed 6.4 per cent, offsetting a 4.0 per cent decline in meat and poultry prices.

Education prices increased 10.0 per cent, while restaurants and hotels rose 12.2 per cent.