Ghana’s annual consumer inflation rose to 5.5% in October 2026 from 5.2% in September, with higher non-food prices accounting for more than three-quarters of the latest inflation figure despite a decline in food prices.
Data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) show that non-food inflation increased to 7.9% from 6.2% in September, while food inflation eased to 2.8% from 4.0%.
The figures show that rising costs outside the food sector are now exerting pressure on household spending, particularly in transport, education and other services.
Presenting the October Consumer Price Index figures, Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu said non-food items contributed 75.7% of the national inflation rate, compared with 24.3% for food.
“Meaning that for October 2026 inflation, the driver is largely non-food inflation, which is contributing 75.7% to the inflation figure of 5.5%,” he said.
Food prices, meanwhile, fell by 2% between September and October, helping to moderate the overall increase in consumer prices.
Several staples recorded significant annual price reductions, including guinea corn, which was 28% cheaper than a year earlier, maize at 27.2% and foreign apples at 24.5%.
However, the reduction in food inflation was insufficient to offset rising costs elsewhere in the consumer basket.
Month-on-month, non-food prices increased by 1.6%, compared with 0.6% in September, reflecting stronger price movements in transport and education.
Despite the latest increase, annual inflation remains 2.5 percentage points below the 8% recorded in October 2025.
Dr Iddrisu said the figures illustrate the difference between the longer-term decline in inflation and the recent increase in monthly price pressures.
“Over 12 months, inflation is 2.5 percentage points lower. That’s between October 2025 and October 2026. Over the last three months, however, inflation has edged up,” he said.
The October figures suggest that further improvements in food prices alone may not be sufficient to bring down inflation if costs associated with transport, education and other non-food services continue to rise.
