Egypt's Annual Inflation Rate Rises to 13% in July

Egypt's nationwide annual inflation rose to 13 percent in July from 12.2 percent in June 2026, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics said Monday. The monthly consumer price increase was 0.1 percent. The headline consumer price index for the Republic stood at 289.9 points in July.

Prices moved unevenly across the index. Meat and poultry prices fell 2.1 percent, organized tourism trips dropped 7 percent, and personal effects cost 1.1 percent less. Several food categories went the other way.

• Vegetable prices rose 2 percent. Fish and seafood prices rose 0.7 percent, as did fruit. Grain and bread prices climbed 0.3 percent, as did milk, cheese and eggs. Oils and fats increased 0.2 percent. Mineral water, carbonated water and natural juice prices gained 1 percent.
• Clothing prices increased 0.5 percent, fabric prices climbed 1 percent, and footwear prices edged up 0.1 percent.
• Housing costs moved higher. Actual rents rose 0.8 percent; dwelling maintenance and repair costs rose 0.8 percent. Furniture, household equipment, carpets and floor coverings were up 0.7 percent. Household furnishings rose 0.3 percent and household appliances 0.7 percent.
• Outpatient healthcare services prices increased 1.5 percent, and hospital services prices rose 1.6 percent.
• Vehicle purchase prices rose 0.4 percent. Private transportation spending increased 0.2 percent, telephone and fax equipment prices climbed 1.2 percent, ready-made meals advanced 0.2 percent, hotel services rose 0.4 percent, and personal care services prices gained 0.9 percent.

The figures follow an International Monetary Fund assessment in late June that the Middle East war's impact on Egypt's economy had been relatively limited. The IMF credited Egypt's decisive and timely measures, including fuel and electricity price adjustments, energy consumption curbs, and public spending reprioritization. Egypt's real GDP expanded 5 percent in the third quarter, and average growth over the first three quarters of the fiscal year was 5.2 percent.

Even so, the IMF expects inflationary pressures in Egypt to persist, pointing to higher energy prices, underlying inflationary pressures, and currency depreciation effects. It has projected urban inflation to reach 15.8 percent by the end of the fiscal year. The fund stressed the importance of maintaining a tight monetary policy to contain inflation, and it emphasized preserving exchange-rate flexibility as a key tool for absorbing external shocks.