Sudan annual inflation hits 26.14% in August as currency swings bite

September 23, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s annual inflation rate stood at 26.14% in August, the Central Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday, as sharp currency fluctuations pushed up the prices of food and basic services.

Essential goods have climbed steadily in recent months as the Sudanese pound experienced severe volatility, plunging to around 9,000 pounds per dollar on the parallel market before clawing back to over 7,000 pounds, eroding household purchasing power.

Price pressures were heavily concentrated in cities, where annual urban inflation reached 38.05% in August, compared with 19.26% in rural areas, the agency said in a statement.

The bureau attributed the price surge to broad increases across key sectors, led by food and beverages, healthcare, transport, housing, and clothing.

Sudan calculates inflation using a basket of 663 goods and services divided across 12 main categories, with food and beverages carrying the heaviest weight.

The compounding price hikes come as Sudan’s economy reels from prolonged conflict, which has crippled trade, severed supply chains, and left millions without stable incomes amid widespread destruction to commercial and agricultural infrastructure.