Rwandans are paying more for food, transport and housing as inflation continues to rise.
The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) said Thursday that prices on the market went up by 6.5% in March, compared to the same time last year. That’s a small jump from 6.3% in February.
The biggest hit is coming from food and drinks. Prices for non-alcoholic beverages and food rose 6.4% over the year, and 2.4% just in March alone.
“I used to spend 10,000 francs and feed my family for two days,” said Claudine, a mother of three shopping at a market in Kigali. “Now it barely lasts one day.”
It’s not just food. Transport prices rose by 12% year-over-year. Many commuters say they’re now spending more just to get to work.
Accommodation and restaurant prices are also up — by 14.1% in cities, according to the report.
Even basic housing needs have gotten more expensive. Prices for rent, water, electricity, and gas rose by 2.6% over the year, and 0.2% in March alone.
Rural Families Feel the Squeeze
In rural areas, inflation also climbed — by 3.9% in March compared to last year. Prices for food and drink there rose 2.3%, and alcohol and tobacco went up 6.5%.
Mutesi, a farmer in Nyagatare, said her harvest isn’t keeping up with what she spends. “Fertilizers are expensive, and now even soap costs more. Everything is going up except our income.”
NISR says the price hikes are mostly driven by food, transport, and hospitality services. March also saw an overall 1.9% increase in prices compared to February.
The government has not yet announced new measures to ease the pressure, but economists warn that continued inflation could affect household spending and savings.
For now, families like Claudine’s are trying to make ends meet one market day at a time.
