Inflation hits its highest level in a year: chicken, eggs, and drinking water lead the price increases
After remaining contained for much of 2025 and the first month of 2026, inflation in Lima, Peru's main inflation barometer, rebounded in February 2026, climbing 0.69%, the highest monthly jump not seen since March of the previous year (when it was 0.81%). The price index was driven mainly by sharp increases in food and drinking water prices. With this result, cumulative inflation over the last 12 months (March 2025 – February 2026) reached 2.21%. Although it is still within the Central Reserve Bank's target range (1%-3%), there is a clear acceleration not seen in 15 months (November 2024), when it stood at 2.27%. A direct hit to the pocketbook: food prices rise 2.01% In February, of the 586 products that make up the family basket, 303 rose in price, 122 fell, and 161 showed no change. The increase was concentrated in food and non-alcoholic beverages (2.01%), the division with the greatest weight in the basket (22.97%). Some products recorded sharp increases: Green peas: 106% Strawberr...
