WILLEMSTAD – Rising prices for food, electricity, fuel, and housing are placing increasing pressure on low-income households in Curaçao, with economists warning that inflation continues to erode purchasing power.
The Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) has warned that Curaçao remains highly vulnerable to external price shocks due to its dependence on imported goods.
Almost all essential products, including food and fuel, are imported, making consumers directly exposed to international market fluctuations.
Recent studies show that lower-income families are disproportionately affected because essential expenses such as groceries, electricity, and transportation make up the largest share of their household budgets.
Economic analysts say that even when official inflation rates appear moderate, the impact on low-income families feels much greater because price increases are concentrated in essential goods.
With only a 1.8 percent increase in minimum wage for 2026, many households continue losing real purchasing power.