By William Ysaguirre (Freelance Writer)
BELIZE CITY, Mon. Sept. 1, 2025
The cost of living in Belize has increased by 1.2 percent in July, when compared to a year ago, the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) in Belmopan reported last Friday, August 29.
The inflation rate was calculated based on SIB’s monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 120.4, which is based on a survey of overall prices for consumer goods and services, compared to 118.9 a year ago.
The cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 2.0 percent over last year, as non-alcoholic drinks went up 7.8 percent, while food prices increased 1.1 percent. Fruit and vegetable juices increased by 11.7 percent, soft drinks went up 7.7 percent, and even the cost of purified water by the gallon went up 10.7 percent.
Cereals and baked goods went up by 1.7 percent; for example, a 16-ounce loaf of white bread went up 2.4 percent in price from $2.13 to $2.18, and a pack of 8 hot dog buns went up 3.6 percent, from $2.88 to $2.98. Grapefruits went up by 9.6 percent; oranges went up 6.8 percent to 31 cents each, and pineapples increased 1.5 percent in price to $1.26/lb. Fresh vegetables jumped up in price, with carrots increasing 17.1 percent to $3.10/lb; lettuce went up 5.2 percent to $6.02/lb; and cucumbers rose 4.6 percent to $1.22/lb. This was offset somewhat by a 6.9 percent drop in tomato prices to $4.29/lb, and a 3.6 percent cut in onion prices to $2.76/lb. The price of a pack of 3 ears of green corn fell 13.8 percent to $6.23.
Utilities and housing costs increased 2.6 percent, as rents went up, and a 100-pound cylinder of butane went up 10 percent to $130.09, compared to $118.16 a year ago.
Transportation costs got marginally cheaper by 2.0 percent, as fuel prices fell. Diesel prices shed 70 cents/ gallon, falling from $12.04 to $11.34/gal. Regular gas dropped 69 cents from $12.55/gallon to $11.96; and premium gas also dropped 60 cents, from $13.81 last year to $13.22/gal last month. This was not reflected in inner city taxi fares, which went up 11.5 percent compared to a year ago.
Some district towns were pricier than others, as the cost of living actually got cheaper by 0.9 percent in Independence Village, while on la Isla Bonita in San Pedro Town showed the highest inflation rate of 3.1 percent. Belmopan was second at 2.8 percent, 2.7 percent in Punta Gorda and 2.3 percent in Corozal and San Ignacio. Out west in Benque Viejo, inflation was 1.6 percent; while it was 1.1 percent in Dangriga. Belize City prices showed a minuscule 0.1 percent drop, and Orange Walk Town showed a 0.5 percent drop.
The Institute also began surveying consumer confidence in the economy last November, and their readiness to invest in new purchases, such as a house, a car, new appliances, and furniture, based on their confidence in the country’s economy. This Consumer Confidence Index registered 50.5 in January this year, but fell to 47.5 percent positive in May, down to 45.2 in June, and now is rising ever so slightly to 45.5 in July.
