In 2024, with an inflation rate of 4.5%, the national economy continues to face persistent inflationary pressures, although their intensity has decreased. This trend is mainly explained by a 5.6% increase in food prices and a 12.3% increase in transport costs, strongly impacted by the rise in fuel prices. It is important to note that, despite a decline compared to 2023, when inflation reached 7.4%, the rate remains above the 3% threshold set by the CEMAC. Over the period 2022-2024, cumulative inflation amounted to 19.3%, a level significantly higher than the 17.5% recorded over the nine years of the period 2013-2021, illustrating the extent of the inflationary shock to households’ purchasing power. Regional disparities remain marked, ranging from 3.0% in Garoua to 7.0% in Maroua. The differences are the result of structural and cyclical factors, including transport costs, the availability of consumer goods and dependence on imports, which influence prices differently in different regions. In addition, several factors continue to fuel inflationary pressures. The rising cost of agricultural inputs and fertilizers has directly impacted food prices. Similarly, the increase in fuel and transport costs has affected all economic sectors. In addition, disruptions in international markets, combined with the effects of climate change on agricultural production, pose additional risks that have contributed to maintaining inflation. For 2025, controlling inflation will remain a central public policy issue in view of the Government’s objective of reducing the rate to 4%; this objective could be compromised by the persistence of inflationary pressures, in particular due to the fiscal adjustments provided for in the State Finance Law for the 2025 fiscal year and a possible upward adjustment of energy prices (fuel, electricity and water).
