ORANJESTAD, Aruba — Aruba Fuel and Food Prices increased during June 2026, with consumers paying more for gasoline and several categories of groceries, according to the latest Consumer Price Index report from the Central Bureau of Statistics.
Aruba’s overall Consumer Price Index increased by 0.1% compared with May. Consumer prices were 2.4% higher than in June 2025, while inflation for the first six months of 2026 reached 2.3%.
Gasoline Price Climbs 4.3%
The local gasoline price increased by 11.30 Aruban cents per litre in June, representing a monthly increase of 4.3%.
Gasoline rose from 265.20 cents per litre in May to 276.50 cents per litre in June. The increase contributed 0.21 percentage points to Aruba’s monthly CPI.
The rise occurred even though the average international West Texas Intermediate crude-oil price declined sharply during the same period.
The average crude-oil price dropped from US$102.34 per barrel in May to US$86 in June, a decline of US$16.34 or 16%.
CBS noted that gasoline and utility prices are influenced by international oil prices, although local price adjustments may not occur at the same time as changes in the international market.
Electricity, Water and Diesel Remain Stable
Electricity and water prices did not change during June.
The estimated average household electricity bill remained at Afl. 263.67, while the estimated average water bill remained at Afl. 168.73. Diesel stayed at 257 cents per litre and made no contribution to the monthly CPI movement.
Utilities, gasoline and diesel together increased by 1.3% during the month, primarily because of the gasoline adjustment.
The combined group contributed 0.21 percentage points to Aruba’s CPI.
Grocery Prices Increase Slightly
Food purchased for consumption at home became 0.1% more expensive in June.
Seven of the 11 food-at-home categories measured by CBS recorded price increases. Potatoes and other tubers showed the largest category increase at 2.2%.
Other notable monthly increases included:
- Meat: 1.1%
- Sugar, jam, honey and confectionery: 0.6%
- Non-alcoholic beverages: 0.4%
Vegetables recorded the largest decrease, falling by 1.2% compared with May.
Food consumed away from home remained almost unchanged, registering a slight decrease of 0.01%.
Food at home and food away from home together increased by 0.1% and contributed 0.01 percentage points to the June CPI.
Annual Food Costs Remain Higher
Although June’s monthly food increase was relatively small, grocery and restaurant costs remained noticeably higher than one year earlier.
The food-at-home index was 3.5% higher than in June 2025, while food away from home increased by 4% over the same 12-month period.
Combined food and catering costs increased by 3.7% year over year.
Vegetable prices were 11% higher than one year earlier, despite their monthly decline in June.
Sugar, jam, honey and confectionery rose by 8.2% over the year, while fruit increased by 4.9%. Oils and fats and non-alcoholic beverages each rose by 4%, while meat increased by 3.7%.
Transport Drives Annual Inflation
Transport recorded the largest annual sector increase, rising by 10.1% between June 2025 and June 2026.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 3.5%, healthcare prices rose by 3.8%, and restaurants and hotels increased by 4.4%.
CBS reported that the overall cost of a minimum household consumption basket for two adults and two children reached Afl. 5,639 in June 2026.
That was Afl. 130 more than the Afl. 5,509 estimated in June 2025. Food and non-alcoholic beverages accounted for Afl. 81 of the annual increase, while transport contributed Afl. 32.
The June figures show that Aruba Fuel and Food Prices continue to affect household expenses, even as individual categories move in different directions from one month to the next.
