Inflation in Tunisia stood at 5.4% in August 2026, up from 5.1% in July, according to the note published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS). On a monthly basis, the consumer price index rises by 0.5%.
INS notes in particular an acceleration in the pace of price increases in the “Food and beverages” group, rising from 6.8% in July to 7.8% in August. Prices for the “Beverages and mineral waters” group rise from 3.1% to 3.7%, while those for the “Health” group increase from 2.7% to 3.4%.
The Twelve Major CPI Components
| Group | Weight (%) |
1 month | 1 year | Avg. 8 months 26/25 |
| Food and beverages | 26.2 | +2.4 % | +7.5 % | +7.1 % |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 2.8 | +0.2 % | +1.4 % | +0.7 % |
| Clothing and footwear | 7.4 | -4.7 % | +9.0 % | +9.0 % |
| Housing, water, gas, electricity | 19.0 | +0.5 % | +4.3 % | +4.1 % |
| Furniture and household items | 5.9 | +0.4 % | +4.7 % | +4.6 % |
| Health | 5.8 | +0.8 % | +3.4 % | +2.9 % |
| Transport | 12.7 | +0.4 % | +2.1 % | +2.3 % |
| Communications | 4.6 | +0.1 % | +0.5 % | +0.5 % |
| Leisure and culture | 2.1 | +0.3 % | +4.3 % | +4.4 % |
| Education | 3.2 | +0.9 % | +5.4 % | +5.5 % |
| Restaurants and hotels | 4.6 | +0.9 % | +6.6 % | +6.1 % |
| Other goods and services | 5.6 | +0.1 % | +5.2 % | +5.3 % |
| Total | 100.0 | +0.5 % | +5.4 % | +5.2 % |
Source : INS, Consumer Price Index, base 100 in 2015, August 2026 note. The last column compares the average of the first eight months of 2026 with that of the same period in 2025.
Poultry, fruits, and meats: the strongest year-over-year increases
Over one year, the “Food and beverages” group shows an increase of 7.5%. This perimeter is distinct from the “Food” group at 7.8% cited by INS in its commentary on the acceleration observed in August.
In detail, prices of poultry rise by 16.5% year over year, fresh fruits by 15.2%, lamb meat by 14.7%, beef by 13.6%, and fresh fish by 10.9%. By contrast, edible oils decline by 4.3%.
Manufactured goods increase by 4.7% year on year, notably driven by the 9% rise in clothing and footwear. Services advance by 4.3%, mainly due to a 15.6% increase in the prices of accommodation services.
Prices rise by 0.5% in one month
Between July and August, the overall consumer price index increases by 0.5%. This change is mainly due to the 2.4% rise in the “Food and beverages” group and 0.8% in the “Health” group.
The groups “Education” and “Restaurants and hotels” each rise by 0.9%.
Conversely, prices of clothing and footwear fall by 4.7% in August due to summer sales, while remaining up by 9% year on year.
Underlying inflation rises slightly
Excluding food and energy, core inflation stands at 4.9% in August, up from 4.8% in July.
Over the first eight months of 2026, the general index shows an average increase of 5.2% compared with the same period in 2025. After 5.1% in July, inflation rises to 5.4% in August.
The next INS note on the consumer price index is scheduled for October 5, 2026.
