BUJUMBURA, Burundi — Burundi’s annual inflation rate rose to 40.9% in March 2025, up from 39.7% the previous month, driven largely by sharp increases in food prices and housing costs, according to new data released by the National Institute of Statistics of Burundi (INSBU).
Food prices, which make up a significant portion of household spending, surged by 40.1% compared to March 2024. The biggest increases were seen in fruit prices, which soared by 78.9%, and palm oil, which rose by 60.3%. Rice prices climbed 38.3%, while dry beans increased by 20.2%. Conversely, prices for fresh vegetables and root crops dropped by 3.5%.
Outside the food sector, the cost of housing saw a dramatic increase, with actual rent prices jumping by 224.1% year-over-year. Housing maintenance and repair costs also rose by 38.3%.
Energy, fuel and other combustibles posted a more modest increase of 23.6%, led by a 28.6% rise in general fuel costs and a slight 0.1% uptick in electricity. The price of water supply services rose by 3.4%, while fuel and lubricants increased by 5.0%.
Core inflation, excluding fuel, energy and fresh products, stood at 49.6%, indicating persistent underlying price pressures.
The inflation data reflects ongoing economic challenges facing the East African country, where fluctuations in food and energy prices have a substantial impact on the cost of living.
The central bank and government have yet to announce new measures in response to the latest figures.
