Inflationary pressures persist and spread to all cities
The general price level increased by 6.3% in 2022, after 2.3% in 2021, 2.5% in 2020, 2.5% in 2019, 1.1% in 2018 and 0.6% in 2017. This is the highest inflation rate after 9.0% in 1995. In 2022, the community threshold of 3% was exceeded in all cities, namely: Ngaoundere (+7.4% after +1.0% in 2021), Bafoussam (+7.3% after 2.4% in 2021) , Buea (+7.1% after +1.7% in 2021), Bamenda (+6.8% after +3.8% in 2021), Maroua (+6.4% after +3.2% in 2021 ), Yaounde (+6.2% after +1.8% in 2021), Douala (+5.7% after +1.9% in 2021), Bertoua (+5.5% after 4.4% in 2021 ), Ebolowa (+5.7% after +3.7% in 2021) and Garoua (+5.4% after +2.1% in 2021).
Inflation feeds on soaring food prices
In 2022, the general price level was largely supported by the 12.9% increase in food product prices and 6.3% increase in restaurant and hotel service prices. The main increases in food prices concerned oils and fats (27.0%), breads and cereals (16.3%), fishes and seafood (14.4%), meats (12. 2%), milk, cheese and eggs (10.7%) and vegetables (7.6%). The increase in prices for restaurants and hotels was mainly due to the 10.1% increase in the price of restaurant services. In addition, certain building materials usually used by households for their minor construction or rehabilitation/repair work were subject to soaring prices. These include cement, sheet metal, PVC pipes, wall tiles and rebar.