Santo Domingo.- Inflation in the Dominican Republic stood at 5.13% year-on-year in August 2026, after recording a monthly variation of 0.38% in the consumer price index (CPI), reported the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD).
The year-on-year rate, calculated between August 2025 and August of this year, decreased for the second consecutive month and accumulates a reduction of 0.54 percentage points compared to the 5.67% observed in June.
According to the monetary authority, this behavior keeps inflation in a gradual process of approaching the target range of 4.0% ± 1.0%.
Core inflation also recorded a reduction, standing at 4.76% year-on-year during August, after remaining at 4.96% in June and July. In monthly terms, this indicator showed a variation of 0.40%.
Inflation and education
The Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Education, Transport, Miscellaneous Goods and Services, Restaurants and Hotels, as well as Furniture and Household Goods groups, together accounted for 88.38% of the inflation recorded during August.
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Education presented the largest increase among those components, with a monthly variation of 2.72%, influenced mainly by adjustments in private school tuition fees at the preschool, primary, and secondary levels.
The Central Bank attributed this behavior to the usual pattern associated with the start of the school year and the enrollment process. Increases were also recorded in university education, books, and school transportation.
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Food inflation
In Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, the CPI increased 0.42%. Among the products that registered increases are potatoes, fresh chicken, rice, purified water, fresh vegetables, green pigeon peas, soft drinks, and passion fruit.
In contrast, the prices of products such as chili peppers, green plantains, eggs, avocados, cassava, and oranges decreased, which moderated the increase in this group.
Transportation inflation
The Transport group recorded an inflation of 0.26%, driven by the adjustments applied to regular and premium gasoline and diesel.
Motorcycle transport and school transport services also increased.
However, automobile prices decreased, a behavior associated with the appreciation of the Dominican peso against the US dollar. Airfares also fell due to lower travel demand after the peak holiday travel period.
Inflation in services
For its part, Miscellaneous Goods and Services increased 0.40%, mainly due to the higher cost of personal care services, such as haircuts, washing, and styling.
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Restaurants and Hotels presented a variation of 0.39%, mainly linked to increases in the prices of meals prepared outside the home, especially the dish of the day.
Furniture and Household Items rose 0.45%, while Health recorded a variation of 0.34%, influenced by increases in some pharmaceutical products.
Inflation in the Cibao
Tradable goods increased by 0.24% during August, while non-tradable goods and services recorded an inflation of 0.52%.
By region, the North or Cibao presented the highest monthly variation, with 0.49%, followed by the South region, with 0.46%.
The East region recorded an increase of 0.34%, while the Ozama region, comprised of the National District and the Santo Domingo province, had the lowest variation, with 0.29%.
In the Cibao region, the increases in food, education, and transport had a greater impact. In the Ozama region, however, reductions in the prices of automobiles and airline tickets helped to moderate the result.
Income inflation
By income level, quintile 1 recorded an inflation of 0.32%; quintile 2, 0.35%; and quintile 3, 0.37%. Quintile 4 also increased by 0.37%, while quintile 5 presented a variation of 0.35%.
