Sri Lanka’s national inflation steady at 40-month high of 8.1-pct in September

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s nation-wide inflation index, as measured by the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) on a year-on-year basis, was 8.1 percent in September 2026, steady from a month ago, data from the state statistics office showed.

It stood at its highest since June 2023, official data showed.

The NCPI, an alternative to the widely watched Colombo Consumer Price Index, rose 0.1 percent, in September 2026, registering 224.2 compared to 223.9 in August 2026.

The year-on-year inflation of the food group increased to 6.9 percent in August 2026 from 6.6 percent in August 2026.

The year-on-year inflation of the non-food group slowed to 9.1 percent from 9.3 percent a month ago.

The NCPI includes 485 items representing consumption of Sri Lanka households. It is compiled three weeks after the end of each month and the release of the key index Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI). (Colombo/October 21/2026)