Tonga’s annual inflation reached 12.1% in September, with higher food prices making the largest contribution to rising living costs, according to the Tonga Statistics Department.
The department’s September 2026 Consumer Price Index (CPI) report shows prices rose across major household spending categories, including food, transport, electricity and cooking gas.
The overall CPI increased to 146.3 in September from 130.6 a year earlier, using September 2021 as the base period.
Which costs rose the most?
Housing, water, electricity and gas recorded the largest annual price increase, at 26.6%. Transport prices rose 21.2%, while restaurants and hotels increased 15.7%.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose 10.1%, but this category made the largest contribution to overall inflation because of its weight in household spending.
The department attributed higher food prices mainly to local vegetables, seafood and root crops, alongside imported meat.
Transport costs were pushed up by international airfares, ferry services, parcel delivery, diesel and petrol. Higher electricity, kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas prices contributed to increased housing-related costs.
Prices for local goods rose 14.6% over the year, compared with 9.2% for imported goods.
What changed in September?
The CPI rose 0.4% between August and September.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages increased 0.9% during the month, driven by higher prices for cassava, taro, fresh tuna, fresh hakula puaka, breadfruit and lemons.
Restaurant and hotel prices also rose 0.9%, largely because of more expensive takeaway meals.
Transport prices, however, fell 0.7%, mainly because petrol prices declined.
What does this mean for households?
The figures indicate that rising costs extend beyond imported goods, with locally produced food and essential household expenses also contributing to inflation.
The CPI measures changes in the prices of a basket of goods and services. It does not mean every household experienced the same increase, as actual spending patterns differ.
For families managing food, transport, electricity and cooking costs, the September figures highlight continued pressure on household budgets.
The report does not establish how much household incomes have changed alongside prices, or how the effects differ across income groups. Those comparisons would help show how inflation is affecting living standards across Tonga.
