The cost of essential goods in Malé rose by 2.7% in July 2025 compared to the same month last year, according to the Maldives Bureau of Statistics.
The Essential Commodities Price Index (ECPI) tracks how the prices of everyday items such as food, drinks, personal care products, and fuel change over time. The index is based on November 2022 prices, which are set at 100. So if the ECPI is at 113, it means prices are 13% higher than in November 2022.
In July, vegetable prices saw the biggest monthly increase, rising 4.3% from June. Fruits and dairy products each went up by 0.8%, while personal care products increased by 1.6%. Prices fell for meat and for oil and fats, both down 0.9%, with fish down 0.4%. Gas prices remained unchanged.
Compared to July 2024, coffee prices jumped the most, up 13.5%. Fruits rose by 9.8% and fruit and vegetable juices by 7.7%. Vegetables, however, were 3.7% cheaper than last year, and gas and other fuels fell by 1.5%.
These changes reflect the ongoing ups and downs in essential commodity prices, which can be influenced by seasonal supply, import costs, and global market conditions. With food making up most of the items tracked, shifts in produce prices have a strong impact on the overall index and on household expenses.
