Antigua and Barbuda’s inflation rate fell by 0.8 percent in the year ending February 2026, but the latest figures suggest that any relief at the checkout counter is still far from straightforward.
Inflation Down Paper Cost
While the overall cost of goods and services was lower than it was a year ago, the latest Consumer Price Index shows a mixed picture for households trying to stretch already tight budgets. Some food categories declined, but others rose sharply, meaning shoppers are still likely to feel pressure depending on what ends up in their trolley.
For families trying to manage weekly expenses, the food numbers tell the clearest story.
The Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Index declined 1.1 percent over the year, while the Food index itself fell 0.8 percent. Fruit prices dropped 11.8 percent, vegetables fell 3.8 percent, meat and meat products were down 3.6 percent, and bread and cereals declined 1.3 percent.
That sounds like relief — but not across the board.
The same report shows that fish and seafood rose 12.3 percent over the year, while food products not elsewhere classified rose 1.7 percent and milk, cheese and eggs increased 0.5 percent. In February alone, fish and seafood jumped 13 percent, with fresh, chilled or frozen fish and seafood surging 40.9 percent for the month.
That means the experience at the checkout counter will not be the same for everyone. A household buying more meat, bread, fruit and vegetables may have seen some relief, while others relying on seafood and other items may still have felt prices bite.
The month-to-month figures also suggest that the cost picture remains unsettled. After a sharp 1.9 percent decline in January, the overall CPI rose 0.2 percent in February. Food prices increased 0.4 percent during the month, even though the broader Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages category remained unchanged. Meat and meat products fell 4.6 percent and bread and cereals dropped 3.1 percent, but transport services rose 4.5 percent.
There was some movement in other areas that affect household budgets. Over the year, actual rentals for housing fell 3.9 percent, materials for home maintenance dropped 5.8 percent, health declined 4.4 percent, and miscellaneous goods and services fell 4.6 percent.
Still, lower inflation does not mean the cost-of-living problem has disappeared. It means prices, on average, are no longer rising at the same pace and in some areas have fallen. For many families, the reality is likely to remain one of uneven relief — cheaper in some places, stubbornly expensive in others.
The February CPI report was released on March 26 by the National Bureau of Statistics.
