Summary
- Inflation Dips: Trinidad and Tobago’s headline inflation rate for February 2026 dropped slightly to 0.6 per cent, down from 0.7 per cent in January.
- Index Unchanged: The overall All Items Index, which measures the general cost of living, remained completely static at 125.8 for the month.
- Marginal Food Increase: The Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages sub-index saw a minor increase of 0.1 per cent compared to January.
- What Cost More: Consumers paid slightly more for items like Irish potatoes, fresh carite, king fish, cheddar cheese, and chilled or frozen turkey parts.
- What Cost Less: Price hikes were offset by decreases in the cost of produce and poultry, including tomatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, parboiled rice, and both fresh and frozen whole chickens.
By Prior Beharry
CONSUMERS experienced a marginal easing in the year-over-year cost of living last month, as the national inflation rate dipped to 0.6 per cent in February 2026.
According to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released by the Central Statistical Office (CSO) on Friday, the February inflation rate represents a slight decrease from the 0.7 per cent recorded in January 2026. It is also marginally lower than the 0.7 per cent rate recorded during the same period last year (February 2025).
Meanwhile, the overall All Items Index—which tracks the general price level of consumer goods and services—remained static at 125.8, showing no change from January to February of this year.
Here is a breakdown of the key inflation metrics:
| Economic Indicator | February 2026 | January 2026 | February 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headline Inflation Rate | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.7% |
| All Items Index | 125.8 | 125.8 | – |
| Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages Index | 153.6 | 153.4 | – |
Food Prices See Minor Bump
While overall inflation cooled, shoppers may have noticed a slight uptick at the grocery store. The sub-index for Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages edged up by 0.1 per cent, moving from 153.4 in January to 153.6 in February.
The CSO noted that this increase was primarily driven by higher retail prices for several staple items, including Irish potatoes, fresh carite and king fish, grapes, hot peppers, ochroes, cheddar cheese, chilled or frozen turkey parts, tea bags, and carbonated soft drinks.
However, the impact of these price hikes on consumers’ wallets was softened by noticeable price drops in the produce and poultry aisles. Shoppers paid less for tomatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, celery, garlic, oranges, and melons. The prices for both fresh and frozen whole chickens, as well as parboiled rice, also saw a general decrease last month.
Other Sectors
Outside of food, a few other consumer categories saw minor price reductions. The CSO reported a 0.2 per cent decrease in the Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco sub-index, alongside a 0.1 per cent drop in the Health sub-index when compared to January 2026.
Prices across all other measured sections remained completely unchanged for the month.
