The cost of living in Antigua and Barbuda climbed further in April 2026, with the latest Consumer Price Index data revealing that soaring airline fares are now one of the most significant drivers of inflation in the twin-island nation.
The Consumer Price Index for April 2026 rose 3.1% over the twelve-month period from April 2025 to April 2026. The All-Items Less Food and Energy index increased 4.0%, while the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages index increased 1.2%.
Air Travel Costs Surge
The standout figure in the report is the dramatic rise in transport costs. The All-Items Less Food and Energy index increase was influenced primarily by a 60.3% rise in the Transport Services Index, attributed to rising costs of regional and international airfares. Additional indexes with notable annual increases include Recreation and Culture at 30.2%, Education at 13.3%, and Restaurants and Hotels at 4.5%.
On a month-to-month basis, the transport picture remains just as stark. The Transport Services index rose 11.7% in April alone, resulting from a 14.0% increase in the average price of airline fares.
Food Inflation Remains Modest
Over the twelve months ending April 2026, the Food Index increased marginally by 0.3%, with mixed results across categories — five declining, three increasing, and the index for Sugars, Jams, Honey, Chocolate, and Confectionery remaining unchanged. The modest increase was largely attributed to rises in the indexes for Fish and Seafood at 11.0% and Vegetables at 8.0%, offset by declines in Fruit at -12.9%, Milk, Cheese and Eggs at -6.5%, and Meat and Meat Products at -5.2%.
Month-on-Month Changes
The monthly Consumer Price Index increased 1.0% in April 2026. The Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages index rose 2.4% over the month of March 2026, following a negative inflation rate of -1.5% in March. The index for Fresh and Chilled Vegetables recorded its largest one-month increase of 13.3% since November 2024. The index for Non-Alcoholic Beverages rose 2.6%, driven primarily by increases in Fruit and Vegetable Juices at 8.2% and Soft Drinks at 2.9%.
Other notable monthly increases recorded were Recreation and Culture at 14.5% and Health at 2.4%.
The April 2026 CPI was released by the Statistics Division under the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Governance. The full report is available on the National Bureau of Statistics website at www.statistics.gov.ag. Direct enquiries may be directed to Mr. Rohan Anthony, Senior Statistician, at (268) 462-0451, or Ms. Jerry Aska, Senior Research Officer, at (268) 562-7496.
