Ethiopia’s annual inflation rate edged down for a second consecutive month in September, but rising prices for food, transport and other essential goods continued to put pressure on household budgets.
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Headline inflation fell to 14.9 percent from 15.1 percent in August, according to data released by the Ethiopian Statistical Service. The rate remained above the 13.2 percent recorded in September 2025, showing that price pressures have not returned to their level a year earlier.
Food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation eased marginally to 14.8 percent from 14.9 percent in August. However, several food categories continued to record steep increases, led by sugar, honey and chocolate, whose prices rose 39.8 percent year on year, up from 38.3 percent in the previous month.
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Meat prices increased by 22 percent, while other food products rose 19.1 percent. Fruit prices climbed 18.5 percent, oil and butter rose 18.2 percent, and milk, dairy products and eggs increased 17.7 percent.
Vegetable prices rose 11.4 percent, down from 12.1 percent in August. Prices of bread and injera, staple foods for Ethiopian households, increased by 8.6 percent, compared with 8.1 percent a month earlier.
The figures show that while inflation has slowed in some food categories, households continue to face higher costs for everyday meals.
Non-food inflation also eased, falling to 15.1 percent in September from 15.4 percent in August. The moderation was uneven, however, with several categories still recording substantial annual price increases.
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Alcoholic beverages and tobacco inflation accelerated to 18.2 percent from 16 percent, while transport inflation edged up to 16 percent from 15.6 percent. Communication costs also rose, reaching 9.6 percent from 8 percent.
Education inflation recorded a sharper decline, falling to 17.8 percent from 25.3 percent in August. Health inflation eased to 10.9 percent from 12.8 percent, while prices for restaurants and hotels rose 15.3 percent.
The latest figures point to a modest easing in overall price pressures rather than a broad reduction in living costs. A lower inflation rate means prices are rising more slowly, not that goods and services have become cheaper.
With annual headline inflation still above its level a year ago and food prices continuing to rise across several categories, households remain exposed to higher living costs. The next challenge will be to sustain the slowdown and bring price increases down further, particularly for essential goods.
Faith Omoboye is a foreign affairs correspondent with background in History and International relations. Her work focuses on African politics, diplomacy, and global governance.
