A shopping cart filled with consumer goods in a supermarket. (Credit: Philippe Hage Boutros/L'Orient-Le Jour)
Lebanon's consumer price index, which measures prices in Lebanese liras, rose 1.9 percent month-on-month and 12.27 percent year-on-year in February — just before the war launched by Israel and the United States against Iran, and Israel's war in Lebanon.
The Central Administration of Statistics released the data Tuesday, slightly later than usual.
The results show rising inflation compared to January (+1 percent and +10.91 percent). The increase remained below 2025's annual average of 14.8 percent, though the war has driven fuel prices up 30 percent to over 50 percent, reflecting worldwide energy price hikes.
Prices rose month-on-month in all governorates: +2.42 percent in Beirut, +1.69 percent in Mount Lebanon, +1.78 percent in the North, +2.90 percent in the Bekaa, +1.55 percent in South Lebanon and +2 percent in Nabatieh. The exchange rate stayed stable at 89,500 liras to the dollar.
Transport and clothing
Fuel prices jumped 8 percent to 32 percent between late January and late February (31.43 percent for gasoline, 30.85 percent for 98-octane gasoline, 8.2 percent for diesel and 13.99 percent for gas). The rise stemmed mainly from government excise taxes imposed in February to fund exceptional bonuses for civil servants, whose salaries have not been fully adjusted since the 2019 economic crisis.
Higher fuel prices also affected transportation, which rose 8.17 percent month-on-month. The annual rate for this sub-index shifted from -0.71 percent in January to +6.03 percent.
A planned one-point VAT rate increase awaits approval. Some businesses may have raised prices in anticipation, though it's difficult to measure.
The government also approved several 2026 budget tax adjustments that taxpayers have likely started passing on.
Food prices posted the next-largest monthly increase at +2.09 percent (up from 1 percent in January). The annual rise remained sharp at 16.03 percent.
Housing prices ranked third, up 1.6 percent month-on-month (0.38 percent in January; 14.82 percent year-on-year in February), driven mainly by energy costs that rose more than 3 percent.
Clothing and footwear saw one of the rare monthly declines at -2.47 percent (and +3.86 percent year-on-year).
