Consumer prices in El Salvador increased by 1.47% year-on-year in March 2026, up from 1.17% in February, reinforcing the recent upward trend in inflation. The acceleration was driven mainly by higher costs for food and non-alcoholic beverages (2.66% vs. 1.38% in February), restaurants and hotels (4.18% vs. 3.96%), and healthcare (2.54% vs. 2.41%).
Deflation in transportation eased slightly (-0.88% vs. -0.92%), while prices for household goods returned to contraction (-0.56% vs. a 0.17% increase previously). At the same time, price declines moderated in communications (-0.27% vs. -0.53%) and clothing and footwear (-0.20% vs. -0.34%). Inflation in housing and utilities decelerated markedly (0.66% vs. 1.34%).
On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.44% in March, a touch below the 0.46% increase recorded in February.