Search results for “Inflation”
6 articles found
Why Prices Still Feel High Even as Inflation Cools
Headline inflation has eased to 4.5%, but services prices — restaurants, housing, health — are climbing 6% to 15%, keeping core inflation firm. The split explains why the central bank is holding rates even as the headline rate falls.
Imported Goods Hold Steady; It's Local Prices That Are Rising
Imported-item prices were essentially flat over the year to March 2026, up just 0.1%, while domestic prices rose about 5.8%. The split overturns the usual story and points to home-grown costs, not imports, as the live inflation risk.
Keeping the Lights On Costs 6% More This Year
The cost of housing, water, electricity and fuels rose about 6.1% in the year to March 2026, outpacing headline inflation. With shelter and utilities a fixed monthly burden, the increase squeezes household budgets that have little room to adjust.
Money Supply Swells 11% While the Central Bank Holds Steady
Broad money reached L$299.4 billion in March 2026, up 10.7% year-on-year, while the Central Bank held its policy rate at 16.3%. Reserve money surged 31% — fast enough to bear watching against the inflation goal — even as commercial lending rates edged up rather than down.
Inflation Cools to 4.5%, but the Core Tells a Tougher Story
Headline inflation slowed to 4.5% year-on-year in March 2026 as domestic food prices fell, capping a long disinflation from 2025's double-digit average. But core inflation held near 6% and imported fuel jumped 12% in the month, leaving the Central Bank with reason for caution.
A Stronger Currency Eases Import Costs as the US Dollar Slips to L$184
The Liberian dollar closed March 2026 at L$183.93 per US dollar — about 8% stronger than a year earlier, supported by booming gold exports and steady remittances, though it has given back ground since the end of 2025. In a dual-currency, import-dependent economy, the rate shapes everything from fuel prices to inflation.