Overall inflation remained at 8.1% in September 2026, unchanged from August, according to the Department of Census and Statistics.
However, the latest figures show a shift in price pressure. Food inflation increased, while non-food inflation eased during the month.
Food Inflation Rises to 6.9%
Year-on-year food inflation rose to 6.9% in September, compared with 6.6% in August.
This means food prices were higher than a year earlier, with the rate of increase picking up slightly during September.
For households, the rise in food inflation points to continued pressure on food costs even though overall inflation remained unchanged.
Non-Food Inflation Eases
Meanwhile, year-on-year non-food inflation fell to 9.1% in September, from 9.3% in August.
The decline shows that price pressure on non-food items eased slightly during the month.
As a result, the increase in food inflation was offset by the lower non-food inflation rate, leaving overall NCPI inflation unchanged at 8.1%.
The latest figures show that inflation is not moving in the same direction across all categories. Food prices are seeing slightly higher pressure, while non-food prices are recording a small easing.
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Last modified: October 21, 2026
