Sri Lanka’s cost-of-living battle is far from over as fresh September 2025 data reveals rising inflation pressures, with food prices leading the surge and non-food categories offering only minor relief.
The Department of Population and Statistics has announced the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Colombo Urban Community Consumer Inflation Rate for September 2025, confirming a worrying uptick in inflationary pressure.
According to the latest figures, the Colombo Urban Community Consumer Inflation Rate climbed to 1.5 percent in September, compared to 1.2 percent in August. This increase reflects growing challenges for households already burdened by higher living costs.
The food category has emerged as the main driver of the spike. Annual food inflation rose sharply to 2.9 percent in September, up from 2.0 percent in August. Everyday essentials such as vegetables, rice, and proteins are continuing to put pressure on family budgets, underscoring the fragile balance between supply chain stability and demand in the market.
In contrast, the non-food category showed a slight easing, though the relief is minimal. Annual inflation in non-food items dipped to 0.7 percent in September from 0.8 percent in August. While this indicates some stability in goods and services outside of food, the decline is not significant enough to offset the growing impact of rising food prices.
The data underscores the mixed picture of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery. While policymakers have managed to keep overall inflation relatively low compared to the crisis years, food-driven inflation remains a persistent concern that could weigh heavily on households in the months ahead.
