In August 2026, the national consumer price index (CPI) climbed 0.8% compared with the same month last year. Urban areas saw a 0.8% increase, while rural regions recorded a 0.7% rise. Food prices contracted by 1.4%, whereas non-food prices advanced 1.2%. Prices for consumer goods and services each grew by 0.8%. Over the first eight months of the year, the average CPI was up 0.9% from the corresponding period in the previous year.

On a month-over-month basis, the August CPI edged up 0.4%. Both urban and rural areas reported identical gains of 0.4%. Food prices rose 0.4% and non-food prices increased 0.3%. Consumer goods prices climbed 0.6% month-over-month, while services inflation was a modest 0.1%.

Food, Tobacco, Alcohol, and Dining-Out Prices Decline Year-on-Year

Prices for food, tobacco, alcohol, and dining-out services fell 0.7% year-on-year in August, shaving roughly 0.21 percentage points off the headline CPI. Within the food category, meat prices dropped 5.1%, contributing a negative 0.21 percentage point impact, with pork prices plunging 11.8%. Fresh vegetable prices decreased 2.8%, deducting 0.05 percentage points. Dairy prices slipped 1.4%, trimming 0.01 percentage points, while aquatic product prices fell 0.6%, also affecting the index by minus 0.01 percentage points. Conversely, egg prices surged 15.0%, adding 0.07 percentage points to the CPI.

Among the other seven major categories, six recorded year-on-year gains and one declined. Prices for other goods and services jumped 7.3%, healthcare costs rose 2.7%, and transport and communication prices increased 2.5%. Education, culture, and entertainment prices grew 1.4%, clothing prices rose 1.3%, and household goods and services advanced 0.7%. Housing prices, however, contracted 0.3%.

Monthly Gains Led by Fresh Vegetables and Eggs

On a monthly basis, prices for food, tobacco, alcohol, and dining-out services inched up 0.3% in August, contributing 0.07 percentage points to the overall CPI. Fresh vegetable prices led the way with a 5.5% jump, adding 0.09 percentage points. Egg prices rose 2.0%, contributing 0.01 percentage points. Meat prices increased 0.9%, including a 1.3% rise in pork, together adding 0.03 percentage points. On the downside, fresh fruit prices fell 2.5%, reducing the index by 0.05 percentage points, and aquatic product prices dropped 0.9%, shaving off 0.02 percentage points.

Of the remaining seven categories, two rose month-over-month, three remained flat, and two declined. Transport and communication prices increased 1.7%, and other goods and services gained 1.5%. Housing, education/culture/entertainment, and healthcare prices all stayed unchanged. Prices for household goods and services slipped 0.2%, while clothing prices declined 0.1%.