VANUATU CONSUMER PRICE INDEX STATISTICS
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is used to measure the changes in the prices of goods and services purchased by households in Port Vila, Luganville and Lenakel over a period of time. The separate indices for these three major commercial centres are then combined to create the Vanuatu CPI. This change in prices is sometimes called inflation. Retail stores, supermarkets, liquor outlets, transport operators, service stations and other providers of goods and services help supply the Vanuatu Bureau of Statistics with the information to calculate the CPI. Prices are collected for the same goods and services each quarter. This ensures that changes in the cost of goods and services over time are not due to changes in the quantity or quality of the goods and services purchased.
CPI NEWS
Quarterly Movement
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the September quarter of 2025, showed an increase of (+1.1%). Port Vila increased by (+1.2%), Luganville (+0.1%), and Lenakel (+1.8%) compared to the previous quarter. The most significant contributors to the overall increase in the CPI were the expenditure groups: Food (+1.5%), Clothing & Footwear (+4.5%), Communication (+4.4%), Household Supplies (+1.8%), Housing Utilities (+1.0%), Miscellaneous (+1.4%) and Education (+0.2%). On the other hand, expenditure groups that showed decline were Health (-6.5%), Recreation (-2.6%), Transport (-0.5%) and Drinks & Tobacco (-0.4%).
The increase in expenditure groups were primarily driven by price changes in the following categories: Cakes & biscuits, fruits and vegetables, women and children’s clothing, household utensils, Water supply charges, Toiletries and personal care products.
CPI Annual Movement
When compared to the September quarter of 2024, the Vanuatu index increased by (+2.3%). Port Vila Index increased by (+2.3%), Luganville and Lenakel index increased by (+1.5%) and (+4.4%) respectively. At national level, increases in the expenditure groups were: Food (+4.4%), Clothing & Footwear (+2.9%), Household Supplies (+1.4%), Communication (+1.6%), Miscellaneous (+2.8%), Drinks & Tobacco (+0.2%), Transportation (+0.5%) and Education (+0.3%). The increases were driven by the price movement of fruits and vegetables, women and children’s clothing, new mobile phones, Toiletries and personal care products.
‘Underlying inflation’ is a measure derived from the CPI excluding items which typically have unstable or volatile prices; because of things like seasonal variation or policy decisions. In September quarter of 2025, underlying inflation increased by (+0.8%) over the previous quarter and increased by (+1.3%) over the same quarter of 2024.
