Stats SL Announces Drop in Inflation

Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) has announced a significant decrease in the country’s annual national inflation rate, which dropped to 10.71 percent in March 2025. This marks a notable 2.38 percentage point decline from the 13.09 percent recorded in February 2025. Monthly inflation also eased to 0.24 percent, down from 0.93 percent the previous month. According to Stats SL, the decline was primarily driven by reduced inflation in key categories such as housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, which fell from 11.45 percent in February to 5.64 percent in March. Similarly, restaurant and hotel prices saw a drop from 25.86 percent to 21.46 percent. However, some sectors experienced rising inflation. Furnishings, household equipment, and routine maintenance surged by 5.02 percentage points to 17.06 percent. Alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and narcotics also saw a rise in inflation to 11.61 percent, up from 10.23 percent in February. Regional data showed a downward trend in inflation across all areas, with the western region recording the highest inflation at 13.02 percent, though still down from 16.48 percent in February. Stats SL attributed the overall decline to updated CPI weights based on a rebased national index from December 2021. The index now reflects data from 440 items across multiple markets, offering a more accurate measure of the country’s inflation trends. The March data indicates a positive development for consumers, suggesting easing cost pressures across most goods and services, although some sectors continue to show volatility.