Venezuela June 2026 Inflation Jumps to 13.8% Amid Earthquake Crisis

The Central Bank of Venezuela reported that consumer price inflation surged to 13.8 % in June 2026, more than double the 6.3 % rate recorded in May. The monthly increase marks the highest reading since February and ranks third for the year after January’s 32.6 % and February’s 14.6 %. Cumulative inflation for the first half of 2026 reached 129.8 %, with an annualized rate of 544.1 %.

Key price drivers were transport (+16.2 %), education (+15.2 %), housing services (+14.9 %) and health (+14.8 %). The bolívar depreciated sharply, slipping from roughly 620 to about 720 per US dollar in recent weeks, which amplified price pressures. The spike occurs in the same month as twin earthquakes on 24 June (magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5) that killed over 4,500 people, injured more than 16,700 and left roughly 18,000 homeless. While the Central Bank gave no direct link between the quakes and inflation, the disasters heightened demand for food, medicine and hygiene supplies. The IMF discussed possible asset releases to help Venezuela cope with the humanitarian shock.

The June figure overturns the previous five‑month trend of slowing inflation and contradicts the central bank’s May forecast that prices would stay in single digits for the remainder of the year.