The average inflation rate over the past twelve months stands at 2.6%, positioning itself below the 3% convergence norm set by the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC). This indicator marks a return to pre-global logistics crisis balances, breaking with the overheating that had driven price increases to a decade-high.

The deceleration observed in May 2026 crowns a cycle of decline that began after several years of strong tensions on purchasing power. A retrospective analysis of the past five years retraces the violence of the inflationary shock and the progressivity of the decompression: the index stood at 2.3% in 2021, before rising to 6.3% in 2022 and then reaching a peak of 7.4% in 2023. A first phase of easing brought the cursor back to 4.5% in 2024, followed by a consolidation to 3.5% in 2025, and ultimately to the current landing of 2.6%. On an annual basis, price growth shows 2.7% in May 2026 compared to 3.3% in May 2025, despite a sectoral increase of 2.3% in food products between April and May 2026, driven by a 6.1% increase in vegetables.

The profile of price pressures reveals an essentially domestic component, linked to internal production costs. Local goods and services record a push of 3.1%, while imported products show a moderate variation of 1.3%. The fragmentation of the national market generates significant geographical disparities, with inflation oscillating between a deflation of -0.7% in Maroua and an overheating of 4.2% in Bertoua, while Douala and Yaoundé align respectively at 2.4% and 3.0%. However, geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf maintain a threat to the downstream sector, with the Price Stabilization Fund for Hydrocarbons (CSPH) recording a surge in the import cost of diesel, from 489.72 FCFA in February 2026 to 786.93 FCFA per liter in May 2026, representing a 60.7% increase.


Ndjomo Carlos

Tags: inflation cameroun economie cemac taux inflation pouvoir d'achat prix alimentaires hydrocarbures geopolitique afrique centrale