Tunisia's Inflation Rate Reaches 5.9% in March 2025
According to the latest data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), Tunisia's inflation rate has reached 5.9% in March 2025, up from 5.7% in February. This increase is mainly attributed to the significant rise in prices of food products and clothing, driven by high consumption during the month of Ramadan.
Food Prices Soar
Food prices have surged by 7.8% year-over-year, exceeding the 7% increase recorded in February. The most notable price hikes concern:
- Lamb meat (+21.9%)
- Fresh vegetables (+20%)
- Fresh fruits (+15%)
- Fresh fish (+14.1%)
- Poultry (+13.9%)
On the other hand, food oil prices have dropped by nearly 20%, slightly mitigating the overall trend.
Clothing and Footwear Sector Sees 11.7% Inflation
The clothing and footwear sector has experienced an 11.7% inflation rate over the past year, up from 9.7% the previous month. This increase is partly linked to the end of winter sales and intensive purchases in preparation for Eid. In terms of monthly variation, clothing prices have risen by 2.9%, equally affecting clothing and footwear.
Other Contributing Sectors
Other sectors contributing to inflation include:
- Manufactured products, with a 5.6% increase, driven by a notable pressure from household maintenance products (+4.7%)
- Services, with a 4.7% inflation rate, led by the "restaurants, cafes, and hotels" group, which has seen prices soar by 11.3% over the past year
Contributions to Overall Inflation
In terms of contributions to overall inflation, manufactured products and fresh food products have respectively contributed 2.2% and 2.3%. By pricing regime, non-food free products (+3.4%) and food products (+2.2%) have the most significant impact on the general trend.
Underlying Inflation Remains Stable
The underlying inflation rate, which excludes food and energy products, remains stable at 5.7%. However, free product prices have risen by 7.2% over the past year, compared to only 1.6% for regulated products. Notably, free food products have seen an 8.7% increase, while regulated products have only risen by 1.1%.
Short-Term Price Dynamics
In the short term, consumer prices have increased by 0.9% between February and March 2025. This monthly dynamic is driven by food (+2%) and clothing (+2.9%), reflecting an accentuated seasonal pressure due to religious celebrations.
