Egypt’s annual urban inflation rate climbed to 13.4% in February 2026, up from 11.9% in January and well above market expectations of 12%. This was the highest level since July 2025, driven by faster price increases in several categories, including food and non-alcoholic beverages (4.6% vs 1.9% in January), housing and utilities (31.7% vs 29.8%), clothing and footwear (14.2% vs 14.1%), miscellaneous goods and services (10.9% vs 10.4%), and recreation and culture (15.1% vs 14.8%).
Inflation was unchanged in transport (27.5%), restaurants and hotels (11.9%), furnishings, household equipment, and routine maintenance (10.8%), and communications (0.4%). In contrast, price growth slowed for alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and narcotics (15.7% vs 18.7%) and for health (17.8% vs 18.4%).
On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 2.8% in February, accelerating from a 1.2% increase in January and marking the fastest monthly gain since February 2024.
