Colombia’s annual inflation rose from 6.03% in July, with restaurants, health care and housing among the main contributors.

Colombia’s annual inflation rate rose to 6.24% in August, up from 6.03% in July and 5.10% a year earlier, according to the National Administrative Department of Statistics, or Dane.

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The increase of 21 basis points from July brought inflation to its highest level reported in the figures provided for 2026. Consumer prices rose 0.39% during August, while inflation accumulated since the beginning of the year reached 5.35%.

Housing, public utilities and food were among the main areas driving the annual increase, Dane said. The pressure was particularly pronounced in restaurants and hotels, which recorded the highest annual price increase among the spending categories at 9.36%.

Hot drinks consumed immediately, including black coffee, coffee with milk and hot chocolate, recorded a 12.07% annual increase. Spending at bars and nightclubs rose 9.57%, while meals at table-service and self-service restaurants increased 9.43%.

Health care was the second-highest inflation category, with prices rising 8.30% over the year. Private health services recorded some of the largest increases, including general medical consultations at 10.41%, private dental services at 10.31% and specialist consultations at 10.06%.

Minor medical services and medical equipment and supplies recorded more moderate increases of 4.91% and 5.99%, respectively.

Clothing and footwear had the lowest annual inflation rate among the spending categories, at 3.26%. Within the category, laundry and ironing services rose 9.36%, while women’s clothing increased 2.13% and clothing for babies rose 2.03%.

Three components made particularly significant contributions to the annual inflation rate. Meals at table-service and self-service establishments added 0.71 percentage points, imputed rent contributed 0.63 points and urban transportation added 0.51 points.

Some goods and food products, meanwhile, reduced pressure on the overall rate. New and used private vehicles and rice each made a negative contribution of 0.04 percentage points, while tomatoes contributed minus 0.03 points.

#IPC | En agosto de 2026, el Índice de Precios al Consumidor registró una variación anual del 6,24%, mientras que la variación mensual fue del 0,39%. pic.twitter.com/KB9RMFvOiN

— DANE Colombia (@DANE_Colombia) September 7, 2026

Text Reads: In August 2026, the Consumer Price Index recorded an annual variation of 6.24%, while the monthly variation was 0.39%.

Medellín leads the increases

Inflation varied considerably among Colombia’s cities. Medellín recorded the highest annual rate at 7.07%, narrowly ahead of Bucaramanga at 7.03%.

Pereira followed at 6.85%, while Armenia recorded 6.83% and Cali 6.41%. All five cities registered inflation above the national rate.

Riohacha had the lowest annual inflation among the cities listed, at 4.37%. Pasto followed at 4.72%, Valledupar at 5.31%, Montería at 5.37% and Sincelejo at 5.42%.

Colombia’s accumulated inflation for the first eight months of 2026 stood at 5.35%, while the annual rate in August reached 6.24%, reflecting differing price increases across spending categories and cities.

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