In February 2026, Rwanda's urban consumer price index (CPI) reported a significant increase, rising to 9.2% year-on-year, up from 6.3% in the previous year. This increase was detailed by the National Institute of Statistics Rwanda (NISR), indicating that various factors contributed to this climb in inflation. Notably, crucial categories such as housing and utilities, services, and transport saw considerable price hikes impacting overall living costs.

Housing-related costs, which represent a substantial portion of the CPI (21%), surged by 12.3% compared to a year earlier. Meanwhile, the service sector experienced notable inflation, with restaurant and hotel prices soaring by 19.9%, reflecting the broader trend of escalating service-related costs. Transportation costs also saw a rise, increasing by 8.6%, further contributing to the inflationary pressures faced by urban consumers.

In contrast, the prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages, which constitute the largest weight in the CPI basket at 27%, increased moderately by 4.6%. This mixed inflation data highlights significant challenges for consumers in Rwanda, especially within the scope of essential services and basic living costs, necessitating closer attention from policymakers to address these rising inflationary trends.