WILLEMSTAD – Food prices on Curaçao continued to rise in 2025, although the pace of increases slowed compared to the previous year, according to new consumer price data released by the Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS).
Figures from the consumer price index show that the overall food category increased by 2.2 percent in 2025, compared to nearly 4 percent in 2024.
While inflationary pressure on groceries remains visible, the data suggests the sharp food price spikes seen in recent years are beginning to moderate.
Prepared foods recorded the largest increase once again. Prices in that category rose by almost 7 percent in 2025 after climbing nearly 10 percent the year before.
Cooking oils and fats also became significantly more expensive. After declining slightly in 2024, prices in that category rose by more than 3 percent in 2025.
Grain products increased by around 3 percent, while potatoes, vegetables, and fruit became approximately 2.5 percent more expensive. Dairy products also recorded an increase of just over 3 percent.
Some categories showed noticeable cooling compared to previous years. Sugar and chocolate products rose by only 0.5 percent after increasing more than 6 percent in 2024.
The cost of eating and drinking outside the home also slowed sharply, from a 5 percent increase in 2024 to 1.4 percent in 2025.
Meanwhile, meat and fish prices remained nearly stable, increasing by only 0.1 percent after posting a slight decline the previous year.
Food remains one of the most influential categories within Curaçao’s inflation basket, accounting for nearly 13 percent of the overall consumer price index.
Curaçao’s total inflation rate for 2025 stood at 2 percent, down from 2.6 percent in 2024.
Regional and international trends also indicate that inflation pressures in the Caribbean are easing after the sharp global price shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and the war in Ukraine.
However, economists continue to warn that import-dependent islands like Curaçao remain vulnerable to fluctuations in global food and fuel prices. The Central Bank has previously noted that lower-income households are hit hardest because essential goods such as food and energy make up a large share of household spending.