Following February, the slowdown in the inflation growth rate continues in March. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Lebanon recorded its smallest monthly increase since September 2024, a month when it had decreased for the first time in two and a half years.

Calculated by the Central Administration of Statistics, which is attached to the Cabinet and only measures prices in Lebanese Lira, the CPI rose by 0.44 percent in March (compared to 0.66 percent in February) and 14.19 percent year-on-year (compared to 15.64 percent the previous month). This level remains very high, although it is one of the lowest since the Lebanese Lira/dollar exchange rate stabilized in 2023, following the collapse of the national currency amidst the economic crisis that erupted in 2019.

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In detail, nearly all sub-category indices experienced increases monthly, with the most significant being in food and non-alcoholic beverages (+3.18 percent), clothing (+1.99 percent), and housing costs (+0.91 percent). The only sub-categories where prices decreased were transportation (-4.51 percent), leisure (-0.29 percent) and health-related expenses (-0.07 percent).

Year-on-year, the majority of sub-categories also saw price increases, led by education (+30.74 percent), miscellaneous goods and services (+25.74 percent), health-related expenses (+22.07 percent), and food and non-alcoholic beverages (+21.37 percent). Only two sub-categories recorded declines compared to last year: furnishings (-8.37 percent) and telecommunications (-2.71 percent).

Geographically, the CPI increased in all regions of the country except in South Lebanon, where it decreased by 0.26 percent. As for the increases, North Lebanon leads (+1.44 percent), followed by Nabatieh (+0.81 percent), Bekaa (+0.77 percent), Beirut (+0.33 percent), and Mount Lebanon (+0.11% percent).