FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – In September 2026, Sri Lanka’s inflation rate, as indicated by the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI), reached a three-year peak of 8.0 percent, maintaining the same level as the previous month. This marks the third consecutive month that inflation has exceeded the Central Bank’s upper target of 7 percent, according to data released by the state statistics office.
The CCPI for September 2026 registered at 209.1, reflecting a modest increase of 0.3 index points or 0.1 percent from the 208.8 recorded in August 2026. The Department of Census and Statistics noted that this uptick corresponds to an increase in the market basket expenditure value of Rs.358.48.
The country has experienced rising prices in response to the government’s recent decision to increase fuel prices by nearly 50 percent due to a supply shortage linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East, compounded by rising global oil prices.
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On a year-on-year basis, food inflation surged to 8.7 percent in September 2026, the highest rate since May 2023, up from 8.5 percent in August 2026, significantly contributing to the overall inflation figures. Meanwhile, non-food inflation remained steady at 7.7 percent year-on-year in September 2026, unchanged from the previous month.
Core inflation also saw an uptick, rising to 5.4 percent in September 2026 from 5.1 percent in August. In its recent monetary policy meeting, the Central Bank opted to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate and projected that inflation would remain in the higher single digits through the first quarter of 2027 before easing to around 5 percent thereafter. (Colombo/September 30/2026)
