UEMOA inflation rises to 1.2% amid higher import costs

Inflation within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) rose to 1.2% in July 2026, driven by a resurgence in imported food prices, which increased by 9.2% year-on-year.

The regional economic outlook remains mixed. While the cost of imported food is rising, several export commodities have seen significant price increases. Rubber rose by 25.9%, gold by 21.9%, cotton by 17.2%, and coffee by 10.2%. Conversely, cocoa prices fell by 23.9% and cashew nuts decreased by 5.6%.

Energy costs also fluctuated, with crude oil prices increasing by 18.1% year-on-year in July. Although this represents a deceleration from the 21.4% increase recorded in June, prices were influenced by potential diplomatic de-escalation in the Middle East toward the end of the month.