Food prices in Guyana increased by 6.7 per cent during the first six months of 2026, accounting for much of the rise in consumer prices over the period, according to the Ministry of Finance’s Mid-Year Report.
The report showed that overall consumer prices increased by 4.4 per cent at the end of June when compared with the end of December 2025. Food alone contributed 3.4 percentage points to that increase, with vegetables and vegetable products emerging as the single largest identified contributor.
Vegetables and vegetable products accounted for 2.5 percentage points of the increase in consumer prices during the six-month period.
The Ministry attributed higher food and energy prices to several factors, including imported inflation, increased demand for food supplies, retail markups and unfavourable weather conditions.
“Amongst the main factors driving food and energy prices are global imported inflation, increased demand for food supplies, retail markups, and unfavourable weather conditions,” the report stated.
The rise in vegetable prices came during a challenging first half for parts of Guyana’s agricultural sector.
According to the report, the other crops subsector contracted by 6.4 per cent, with prolonged and above-normal rainfall during the second quarter leaving cultivations waterlogged, reducing yields and damaging crops.
Vegetable production declined by 4.2 per cent, while output of spices fell by 17.7 per cent, cole crops by 19.1 per cent and beans and cereals by 5.7 per cent.
However, production of root crops, fruits and coconuts increased by 27.4 per cent, 14.5 per cent and 6.3 per cent, respectively.
The Ministry also warned that weather-related pressures could persist during the remainder of the year. The anticipated onset of El Niño conditions is expected to expose crops to heat stress as the sector recovers from flooding experienced during the first half.
In response to the risks, Government is continuing the national shade house programme and other climate-resilient cultivation measures in key agricultural regions.
Meanwhile, when prices in June 2026 are compared with June 2025, the report recorded a 12-month inflation rate of 4 per cent, slightly below the 4.2 per cent recorded a year earlier.
Food contributed 2.7 percentage points to that 12-month inflation rate, while energy contributed 0.7 of a percentage point.
Within the food category, vegetables and vegetable products accounted for 1.4 percentage points, followed by meat, fish and eggs at 0.5 of a percentage point and prepared meals and refreshments at 0.3 of a percentage point.
The Government said it has been increasing investment in agricultural production across all 10 administrative regions in an effort to expand domestic food supplies.
The report also pointed to cash support provided to farmers, parents of school-age children and Guyanese adults, along with measures to maintain stable electricity and water tariffs and limit the pass-through of higher global fuel prices to consumers.
Government said these interventions are intended to cushion increased costs and contain price pressures.
The Ministry has now revised its full-year inflation projection to 4.3 per cent for 2026, while indicating that targeted cost-of-living interventions will continue during the remainder of the year.
