Inflation Hits 15.3 Percent in July as Food and Fuel Keep Prices Hot

As reported by Birr Metrics

Summary

• Ethiopia's annual inflation rate rose to 15.3 percent in July 2026, according to data from the Ethiopian Statistical Service reported in late August. Food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation reached 15.7 percent year on year, while non-food inflation stood at 14.8 percent. On a monthly basis, general inflation increased by 2.6 percent in July, compared with 1.3 percent in the same month a year earlier.
• The July reading extends a rebound that began earlier in 2026, when headline inflation climbed back into double digits after falling to 9.7 percent in December 2025. At its July 13 meeting, the National Bank of Ethiopia's Monetary Policy Committee said it expected inflation to ease by December but to remain in double digits over the following six months. The 12-month moving average inflation rate continued to decline, standing at 11.9 percent in July.
• For BirrValue users, higher inflation reduces what the birr buys at home and can add pressure on the exchange rate over time. Remittance recipients may need to send more dollars to maintain the same purchasing power. Compare bank rates on [BirrValue](/banks) and review [Send Money](/send-money) options before converting.