Morocco Experiences Annual Inflation Increase
In March 2026, Morocco witnessed a notable increase in its annual inflation rate, rising by 0.9% year-on-year. This inflationary trend has been primarily driven by a significant surge in energy prices, which escalated by an impressive 10.7%. The High Commission for Planning released a report detailing these changes, indicating that food prices also contributed to this inflation, with a rise of 0.6%, while non-food items saw an increase of 1.1%. The report emphasized that the most substantial increases were observed in energy prices, which significantly outpaced other categories.
Furthermore, when analyzing the data on a monthly basis, the inflation rate experienced a monthly increase of 1.2% in March, compared to February of the same year. This rise was attributed to a combination of factors, including a 1.9% increase in the price index for food products and a 0.6% increase in the index for non-food products. Within the food category, notable price hikes were recorded for vegetables at 9.7%, fruits at 2.6%, and meats at 2.4%. Meanwhile, prices for fish and seafood rose by 1.3%, and coffee, tea, and cocoa saw a slight increase of 0.3%.
Conversely, there were declines in the prices of certain food items, with oils and fats decreasing by 2.4% and milk and white cheese dropping by 0.2%. In terms of non-food products, the rise was predominantly driven by fuel prices, which soared by 10.7%. The inflation index reported the highest increases in regions such as Guelmim and Al Hoceima, each registering a 2.7% increase, followed by Errachidia at 1.8% and Agadir at 1.6%. Other notable increases were documented in Safi (1.4%), Tangier (1.3%), and Marrakech, all reflecting varying inflationary pressures across the nation.
In summary, the core inflation index, which excludes items with fixed prices and highly volatile products, experienced a modest increase of 0.1% in March compared to February, while it decreased by 0.6% when compared to March of the previous year. This data highlights the ongoing economic challenges faced by Morocco, particularly in managing inflation amid fluctuating energy costs.
As reported by alyaoum24.com.
