Tanzania’s annual headline inflation held steady at 4.3% in September 2026, unchanged from the rate recorded in August, according to data released on 08th October, 2026, by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The figure is measured by the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), which tracks price changes across a fixed basket of 383 goods and services, comprising 132 food and non-alcoholic beverage items and 251 non-food items, collected from all 26 regional headquarters on the Tanzanian mainland and used as a key indicator for investors and businesses monitoring the cost environment.
The overall NCPI rose from 119.86 in September 2025 to 125.07 in September 2026, reflecting a gradual upward trend in the overall price level.
The annual Headline Inflation Rate fluctuated between 3.2% and 4.3% over the 12-month period from September 2025 to September 2026, with the peak rate of 4.3% recorded in both August and September 2026.
On a monthly basis, the NCPI increased marginally from 124.93 in August 2026 to 125.07 in September 2026, a rise of 0.1%.
Table of Contents
- Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages
- Non-Food Inflation
- Transport
- Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels
- Clothing and Footwear
- Restaurants and Accommodation Services
- Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance
- Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services
- Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
- Health
- Education Services
- Information and Communication
- Recreation, Sport and Culture
- Insurance and Financial Services
- Core and Supplementary Indices
Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages inflation, the category with the highest weight in the basket at 28.2%, edged up to 3.9% year-on-year in September 2026, from 3.7% recorded in August 2026.
On a monthly basis, food prices declined by 0.5% between August and September 2026, with the index falling from 135.36 to 134.70.
Despite the overall monthly decline, several food items recorded monthly price increases, including sweet potatoes (3.9%), cassava flour (3.9%), cooking bananas (3.7%), dried peas (3.1%), fresh cassava (2.0%), dried lentils (1.8%), fresh fish (1.7%), groundnuts (1.5%), soft drinks/sodas (1.4%), fresh cow milk (0.8%), cocoyams (0.5%), dried beans (0.4%), wheat flour (0.3%), cooking oil (0.3%), traditional live chicken (0.2%), sorghum grains (0.1%), and chicken meat (0.1%).
Non-Food Inflation
The inflation rate for all items excluding food and non-alcoholic beverages stagnated at 4.6% year-on-year in September 2026, the same rate recorded in August 2026.
The following categories contributed to non-food price movements during the month.
Transport
Transport recorded the highest annual inflation rate among all main groups at 14.0%, with a weight of 14.1% in the NCPI basket.
Its monthly index rose from 136.18 in August 2026 to 137.66 in September 2026, a monthly increase of 1.1%.
Items in this category contributing to monthly price increases included motorcycles fare (5.8%) and taxi fare (1.9%).
Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels
The Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels category, the second-largest component of the basket with a weight of 15.1%, recorded annual inflation of 2.5%, with its index rising from 121.08 in August 2026 to 121.47 in September 2026, a monthly increase of 0.3%.
Monthly price increases within this category included firewood (4.6%), cement (3.9%), gas for domestic use (1.7%), corrugated iron sheets (1.1%), and floor tiles (0.5%).
Clothing and Footwear
Clothing and Footwear recorded annual inflation of 1.7%, with its index at 117.01 in September 2026 from 115.09 in September 2025, and a monthly increase of 0.1%.
Individual items recording monthly price increases included clothing materials (1.2%), footwear for women (0.4%), footwear for men (0.3%), garments for men (0.1%), garments for women (0.1%), and footwear for children (0.1%).
Restaurants and Accommodation Services
Restaurants and Accommodation Services recorded annual inflation of 2.9%, with its index rising to 120.79 in September 2026 from 117.39 in September 2025, and no monthly change recorded in September 2026.
Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance
Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance recorded annual inflation of 2.6%, with its index rising to 119.98 in September 2026 from 116.99 in September 2025, a monthly increase of 0.5%, supported by household furniture (0.5%).
Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services
Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services recorded annual inflation of 3.3%, with its index at 122.22 in September 2026 from 118.30 in September 2025, and no monthly change recorded in September 2026.
Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco recorded annual inflation of 1.1%, with its index rising to 114.86 in September 2026 from 114.62 in August 2026, a monthly increase of 0.2%.
Health
Health recorded annual inflation of 1.4%, with its index at 111.14 in September 2026 from 109.60 in September 2025, and no monthly change recorded in September 2026.
Education Services
Education Services recorded annual inflation of 3.2%, with its index at 115.55 in September 2026 from 111.99 in September 2025, and no monthly change recorded in September 2026.
Information and Communication
Information and Communication recorded annual inflation of 1.5%, with its index at 107.93 in September 2026 from 106.31 in September 2025, and no monthly change recorded in September 2026.
Recreation, Sport and Culture
Recreation, Sport and Culture recorded annual inflation of 0.5%, with its index at 111.70 in September 2026 from 111.10 in September 2025, and a monthly decline of 0.3%.
Insurance and Financial Services
Insurance and Financial Services recorded the lowest annual inflation among all main groups at 0.2%, with its index at 102.59 in September 2026 from 102.34 in September 2025, and no monthly change recorded in September 2026.
Core and Supplementary Indices
The Core Inflation Rate, which excludes volatile items such as unprocessed food, energy, and utilities, with the exception of maize flour, stagnated at 4.1% in September 2026, the same rate recorded in August 2026.
The Core Index covers 297 items representing 73.9% of the total NCPI weight, and its monthly index rose from 120.74 to 121.18, a monthly increase of 0.4%.
The Non-Core Index, which captures the more volatile components of the basket, stood at 4.9% year-on-year in September 2026, with a monthly decrease of 0.5%.
The Energy, Fuel and Utilities Index recorded annual inflation of 7.8%, with a monthly increase of 0.2%, reflecting continued upward pressure from fuel prices.
The Services Index rose by 6.1% year-on-year and by 0.6% month-on-month, while the Goods Index recorded annual inflation of 3.4% with a monthly decline of 0.2%.
The Education Services and Products Ancillary to Education Index recorded annual inflation of 1.7%, while the All Items Less Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Index rose by 4.6% year-on-year and by 0.4% month-on-month.
The next NCPI release, covering October 2026, is scheduled for 09th November, 2026.
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