Sri Lanka’s national inflation holds at 8.1% in September

By The Pulseline News Desk

Sri Lanka’s nationwide inflation remained elevated at 8.1% in September 2026, unchanged from the previous month and reaching its highest level since June 2023, according to data released by the Department of Census and Statistics.

The year-on-year inflation rate, measured by the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), reflects continued price pressures on household spending, with food inflation accelerating while inflation in the non-food category eased slightly.

The NCPI rose marginally to 224.2 points in September from 223.9 points in August, representing a month-on-month increase of 0.1%.

Food inflation increased to 6.9% in September from 6.6% in August, indicating a renewed acceleration in price increases for food-related items.

In contrast, year-on-year inflation in the non-food category slowed to 9.1% in September from 9.3% a month earlier.

The divergence between the two categories highlights differing price movements across household expenditure groups, although overall inflation remained unchanged during the month.

The NCPI is a key measure of changes in the prices of goods and services consumed by households across Sri Lanka. It covers 485 items and provides a nationwide assessment of consumer price movements.

Unlike the NCPI, the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) focuses on price changes in the Colombo urban area and is generally released earlier. The NCPI is compiled and published approximately three weeks after the end of each month.

The September figures provide a broader picture of inflationary pressures across the country as households continue to contend with changes in the cost of living.