Inflation (consumer prices) in Mauritius
How much more expensive the typical shopping basket became over a year.
4.9%
Where it stands
Year-on-year inflation was 4.9% in August 2026, the highest since July 2025; the 12-month average rose to 4.0%, from 3.3%. Over the year the biggest rises were housing and utilities (+8.9%), restaurants and accommodation (+8.6%) and transport (+6.0%): MoBriefs calculation from Statistics Mauritius division indices. Core inflation (excluding food, drinks, tobacco and mortgage interest) was 5.2%. In August alone prices rose 0.4%, mostly because of petrol. The Bank of Mauritius raised its Key Rate to 4.75% in May 2026 and in August projected inflation of about 5% for 2026.
What it means
Mauritius imports most of what it consumes, so global prices and the rupee drive inflation. Lower inflation never means prices fall: it means they rise more slowly. Prices today are roughly a third higher than in 2020, which is why life still feels expensive even in "good" years.
Recent years
| Year | Inflation (consumer prices) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 4% |
| 2022 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 7% |
| 2024 | 3.6% |
| 2025 | 3.7% |
Why it moved
2021: Prices rose as the rupee weakened and global shipping costs spiked after COVID.
2022: The shock year: Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent fuel, wheat and cooking-oil prices soaring, and a weaker rupee made every import dearer.
2023: Still high: food prices kept climbing on top of the 2022 jump.
2024: Global prices calmed and inflation returned to normal.
2025: Stable at 3.7%.