DILI, 22 April 2026 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste recorded a 0.6% rise in consumer prices in March compared with the previous month, reversing a 0.1% deflation in February, according to the National Institute of Statistics Timor-Leste (INETL, I.P.).
INETL said the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was mainly driven by higher prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as transport and household goods.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 0.3%, with notable increases in tobacco and alcoholic beverages (2.6%), transport (2.5%), and furniture and household maintenance equipment (0.2%).
Within food categories, prices increased for vegetables (0.3%), milk, cheese, and eggs (2.7%), coffee, tea, and cocoa (3.7%), fruit juices (3.5%), fruit (0.9%), rice (0.1%), and fish and other seafood (1.2%).
In contrast, prices declined for meat (0.1%), oils and fats (0.6%), and sugar, jam, honey, chocolate, and confectionery (0.4%), the report said.
On a year-on-year basis, the CPI rose 0.8% in March compared with the same month in 2025.
Annual inflation was largely driven by increases in food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.3%), transport (0.2%), education (0.3%), household goods (0.7%), and clothing and footwear (0.3%).
However, some categories recorded declines, including alcoholic beverages and tobacco (down 1.1%), communications (0.3%), and housing (0.3%), the data showed.
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