The overall rate of inflation, as measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) on a year-on-year basis, has increased to 8% in August 2026, up from 7.3% recorded in July 2026.
The increase was largely driven by a sharp rise in food inflation, according to the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS).
Year-on-year inflation for the Food Group increased to 8.5% in August, up from 6.3% in July.
Meanwhile, inflation for the Non-Food Group marginally declined to 7.7%, compared to 7.8% in the previous month.
The CCPI for all items stood at 208.8 in August 2026, recording an increase of 0.6 index points from 208.2 in July.
The Department of Census and Statistics, which is responsible for compiling the CCPI, said the index measures the average change in prices of goods and services purchased by households in urban areas of the Colombo District.
The current CCPI is based on 2021 = 100 and covers a consumer basket of 426 items. The weights used for the index are based on expenditure patterns recorded in the 2019 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES).
