Lebanon’s annual inflation rate accelerated to 12.27% in February 2026, up from 10.91% in January, reaching its highest level since November 2025. Price increases were recorded in several key categories: food and non-alcoholic beverages (16.03% vs 15.14% in January), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (7.44% vs 6.95%), clothing and footwear (3.86% vs 2.82%), and restaurants and hotels (7.87% vs 7.21%).
At the same time, prices returned to growth in transport (6.03% vs -0.71%) and in furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance (4.26% vs -2.30%), while deflation in communication eased slightly (-1.60% vs -1.63%).
By contrast, inflation slowed in housing and utilities (14.82% vs 14.99%), health (2.04% vs 2.19%), education (35.71% vs 35.94%), and recreation and culture (30.32% vs 31.31%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 1.90% in February, reversing a 0.08% decline recorded in January.
