Cost of living pressures persist as essential commodity prices climb again in December
On a year-on-year basis, food prices in December rose by 0.43 percent compared to the previous year. The largest annual increases were recorded in the categories of sugar and confectionery, as well as oils and fats.
Prices of vegetables have hiked significantly | Getty Images | getty images
Prices of essential commodities commonly used in households continued to trend upward in December 2025 compared to November 2025.
During this period, the Essential Commodities Price Index, which tracks price levels of basic goods, registered an increase of 0.51 percent.
Data released by the Maldives Bureau of Statistics show that overall commodity prices in December rose by 0.95 percent compared to the same period in 2024.
A breakdown by sector indicates that food prices increased by 0.68 percent. Within the food category, vegetable prices recorded a sharp increase of 5.05 percent, while prices of milk, cheese, and eggs rose by 1.12 percent. Prices of sugar, jam, honey, and chocolate also increased by 1.07 percent.
On a year-on-year basis, food prices in December rose by 0.43 percent compared to the previous year. The largest annual increases were recorded in the categories of sugar and confectionery, as well as oils and fats.
Beyond food items, prices of personal care and hygiene products increased by 0.39 percent month-on-month and recorded a notable annual rise of 4.48 percent. This marks the highest year-on-year price increase among all categories. Prices of coffee and tea also increased compared to the same period last year, while soft drink prices rose by 2.45 percent in December compared to the previous year.
