Lebanon’s annual inflation rate accelerated to 17.5% in September 2026, up from 16.7% in August, reaching its highest level since May 2026. Price increases quickened across several categories, notably housing and utilities (20.4% vs. 17.9% in August), transportation (35.2% vs. 31.7%), clothing and footwear (3.1% vs. 1.2%), furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (9.7% vs. 9.6%), and restaurants and hotels (15.5% vs. 14.3%).
Deflation in communication moderated slightly (-0.7% vs. -0.8%), while inflation held steady for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (7.1%), education (35.7%), and miscellaneous goods and services (15.7%). By contrast, price growth slowed for food and non-alcoholic beverages (10.0% vs. 11.7%), health (7.3% vs. 7.4%), and recreation and culture (43.6% vs. 45.7%). Month on month, consumer prices rose 1.4%, the same pace as in the previous month.
