WILLEMSTAD – Consumer prices in Curaçao saw a slight increase in May 2025, according to the latest figures released by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). The overall price level rose by 0.2 percent compared to April 2025, while the year-on-year inflation rate reached 2.3 percent. 

Monthly Price Changes 

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose from 104.4 in April to 104.6 in May 2025, indicating modest inflation. The increase was driven by higher prices in seven spending categories: 

Alcohol and tobacco: +1.2% 

Clothing and footwear: +1.1% 

Furniture and household goods: +1.0% 

Miscellaneous goods and services: +0.7% 

Recreation and entertainment: +0.6% 

Housing: +0.4% 

Healthcare: +0.2% 

In contrast, prices fell in two categories: 

Transportation and communication: –0.7% 

Food: –0.3% 

Inflation Over the Long Term 

Inflation reflects the decrease in purchasing power as prices for goods and services rise over time. It is commonly used as an indexing tool for wages, pensions, social benefits, and minimum wages. 

The inflation rate is calculated by comparing the 12-month average of the CPI to the same period a year earlier. For the 12-month period ending in May 2025, consumer prices rose on average by 2.3% compared to the same period in 2024. The average CPI moved from 101.3 in May 2024 to 103.6 in May 2025. 

Outlook 

The CBS report highlights the continued impact of global and local economic conditions on Curaçao’s cost of living. Policymakers, employers, and social institutions are encouraged to take inflation into account when adjusting wages and benefits to ensure the maintenance of purchasing power for residents.