Arequipa inflation reaches 5.09% amid rising food and fuel costs

Arequipa has recorded an annual inflation rate of 5.09%, exceeding the national average of 4.83%, according to the latest report from the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI). The city experienced a monthly price variation of 0.64% in October, placing it among the regions with the highest cost of living increases in Peru.

The primary driver of this inflation is the food and non-alcoholic beverages sector, which rose 1.49% nationally. Significant price hikes were noted in vegetables and tubers, including corn (38.4%), carrots (21%), and various types of potatoes. Seafood also saw increases, with bonito rising by 22.9%. The INEI attributes these fluctuations to reduced supply caused by adverse weather conditions and the effects of the Coastal El Niño phenomenon.

In addition to food, the cost of living is being impacted by fluctuations in transport, gas, and electricity. Local fuel prices for gasoline, diesel, and GLP continue to vary across different districts in the Arequipa region.