Essential commodity prices rise nearly 10% in Malé

Prices of essential commodities in Malé rose nearly 10% in October compared with the same month last year, with particularly sharp increases recorded in several food categories and gas and other fuels.

The Maldives Bureau of Statistics’ Essential Commodities Price Index (ECPI) increased by 9.96% year-on-year in October and by 1.01% compared with September.

Food prices were 10.73% higher than in October 2025.

Meat recorded the largest annual increase among the main food categories, rising 23.97%, followed by vegetables at 22.16%. Fruit prices increased 13.24%, while milk, other dairy products and eggs rose 12.11%.

Prices of sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery increased 10.63%, while oils and fats rose 10.20%. Cereals and cereal products were 4.77% higher than a year earlier.

Gas and other fuel prices increased 13.82% year-on-year, although they remained unchanged from September.

Beverage prices rose 7.42% compared with October 2025, while personal care products increased 4.86%.

On a monthly basis, food prices increased 0.96%. Fruit recorded a 3.32% increase from September, while cereals and cereal products rose 1.92% and meat increased 1.04%.

The overall ECPI for Malé stood at 125.39 in October.

The ECPI tracks price changes across a basket of 96 essential products, including food, beverages, fuel and personal care products. Food accounts for 70.94% of the index.

The ECPI is a sub-index of the Consumer Price Index and is used to monitor changes in the prices of essential commodities.