INS: Inflation Holds Steady at 5.4% in June 2025

Tunisia’s National Institute of Statistics (INS) announced on Saturday, July 5, 2025, that the country’s inflation rate remained unchanged at 5.4% in June, the same level recorded in May.

However, this overall stability conceals significant increases in specific sectors, particularly food and services related to hospitality and dining.

Sectoral Gains Offset by Declines

According to the INS, the unchanged headline inflation rate is the result of two opposing trends:

• An acceleration in price increases for the “Restaurants, cafés and hotels” category, with annual inflation rising from 10.8% in May to 11% in June;

• Conversely, a slowdown in food inflation, which eased to 6.4% year-on-year in June, down from 6.7% the previous month.

Core inflation, which excludes food and energy products, also remained stable at 5.5%.

Over the past year, unregulated (free-market) prices rose by 6.5%, while regulated prices increased by only 1.5%. This divergence is even more pronounced in the food sector, where free-market food prices jumped 7.2%, compared to just 0.7% for regulated food items.

Sharp Rises in Fresh Produce and Meat

Food prices continue to weigh heavily on household budgets in Tunisia. The INS highlighted the following year-on-year increases:

• Fresh vegetables: +25.2%

• Fresh fruit: +20.4%

• Lamb: +19%

• Fresh fish: +10.5%

In contrast, some categories posted significant declines:

• Edible oils: –22.7%

• Eggs: –4.7%

Manufactured Goods and Services See Moderate Increases

Prices for manufactured products and services rose by 5.3% year-on-year. The clothing and footwear sector recorded a 9.3% increase, while household cleaning products went up by 5%.

Among services, the “Restaurants, cafés and hotels” category once again posted the sharpest rise, up 11%, reflecting continued pressure on the tourism and hospitality industries.

Month-on-Month: Consumer Prices Edge Up 0.4%

Compared to May, consumer prices increased by 0.4% in June 2025, driven primarily by:

• Clothing and footwear: +1.6%

• Restaurants and hotels: +1.1%

• Food and beverages: +0.1%

Breaking down the food data, prices for lamb rose by 1.8%, and beef by 1.5%. At the same time, prices fell for poultry (–1.4%), eggs (–3.6%), and fresh fruit (–1.1%).

Controlled Yet Uneven Inflation Dynamics

While Tunisia’s overall inflation rate remains steady at 5.4%, the data reveals significant disparities across sectors and product categories. Some commodities are benefiting from lower prices, while others—particularly fresh food and services—continue to face upward pressure.

In this context, closely monitoring the detailed components of the consumer price index remains crucial for anticipating future trends, especially amid an economic climate where household purchasing power continues to be a key concern for Tunisian families.