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August cost of living edged up 0.2%; annual inflation at 2.2%

Panama’s national urban CPI rose 0.2% in August 2026, taking annual inflation to 2.2%, according to INEC figures reported mid-September. The print predates the mid-September fuel-price hike.

The index stood at 102 (base 2024=100). Year-on-year was +2.2%; versus December 2025 about +2.1%; January–August average near 1.5%. Transport rose 1.1%, with fuels and lubricants +6.4%, while electricity fell 1.6%. Fresh vegetables jumped 7.5%; fruit vegetables fell 6.2%; fresh fish −3.5%.

This is the official grocery-and-bills snapshot before September diesel and gasoline maximums feed into later CPI prints. Prefer primary INEC PDFs when available—and remember August IPC is not the 18 September fuel hike.

Sources

  • Infobae (INEC) — August cost of living
  • INEC publication calendar

Disclaimer: Prefer primary INEC PDFs when available. August IPC is not the 18 September fuel hike.