Inflation climbs as food and LPG prices rise

Belizeans are feeling the pinch at the grocery store and at home, as the latest Consumer Price Index, or CPI, data for July 2025 shows a 1.2 percent national inflation rate compared to the same time last year. For the first seven months of the year, the inflation rate stands at 1.4 percent. This increase is largely driven by three key categories: Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Housing and Utilities, and Personal Care. Together, these areas account for nearly 90 percent of the overall price increase. Within the food category, prices for non-alcoholic beverages saw a significant jump of 7.8 percent, with purified water, soft drinks, and juices all costing more. Staple food items are also on the rise, with a 1.7 percent increase in the cost of bread and bakery products, and fresh meats like pork, beef, and poultry seeing a 3 percent increase. The cost of living is also up, with the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ category rising by 2.6 percent in July. This is due to higher home rental costs and a considerable jump in the price of Liquid Petroleum Gas, or LPG. The average price for a 100-pound cylinder of LPG is now over $130, an increase of almost $12 from July of 2024.