Food prices are rising again after a drop last month.
In May 2020 and compared to April 2020, the Household Final Consumer Price Index fell by 0.2% after an increase of 0.4% the previous month. This monthly trend is mainly due to the decline in transport prices (-3.2% after +3.2% the previous month). In addition, the prices of alcoholic beverages, tobacco (+0.2% after -0.1% last month), furniture, household items and routine household maintenance (+0.2% after +0.1% last month) as well as those of leisure and culture (+0.1% after +0.9% last month) increased. On the other hand, after falling by 0.2% last month, food prices rose by 0.9%.
Compared to the same period in 2019, the general price level increased by 2.1%, after 2.4% in April 2020. This price increase is largely due to the increase in the prices of food products (+4.7% after +4.3% the previous month), clothing and footwear (+1.8% after +1.5% the previous month), as well as transport (+0.3% after +4.7% the previous month).
On average over the last twelve months, the general price level increased by 2.3%, just as in April and March 2020. The inflation observed is largely the result of the rise in the prices of food products (+5.0% after +4.8% the previous month), restaurants and hotels (+2.6% after +2.9% last month) as well as leisure and culture (+2.0%, at the same pace as last month).
The core inflation rate1 stood at +1.3%. The inflationary pressures observed in Yaoundé in May 2020 were therefore not only maintained by fresh products (+8.2%). Energy prices fell by 2.2%. Moreover, inflation is more of an internal origin (+2.6%) than an external one (+1.5%).
