Meat prices in Antigua and Barbuda rose 11.9% over the past year, intensifying everyday cost pressures for households as poultry and beef recorded some of the sharpest increases within the food category, according to the latest Consumer Price Index released by the Statistics Division.

The CPI shows that poultry prices climbed 14.7% year-on-year, while beef and veal surged 17.6%, making them the largest contributors to inflation within the meat and meat products category. Fish and seafood prices also rose 8.0% over the same period, further adding to food-related expenses.

Overall, the food index increased 3.2% in the twelve months ending December 2025, while the broader food and non-alcoholic beverages index rose 2.9%. Officials said the increases were partly offset by price declines in some categories, including fruit, vegetables, and oils and fats.

On a month-to-month basis, food prices rose sharply in December, with the food index increasing 3.5% compared with November. Meat and meat products jumped 9.8% in a single month, as poultry prices increased 12.5% and beef and veal rose 8.1%.

The Statistics Division noted that eight of the nine supermarket food groups recorded increases in December, underscoring the widespread nature of food price pressures heading into the end of the year.

Despite the rise in food costs, overall inflation for the year stood at 3.1%, while consumer prices increased 1.9% in December alone, driven by higher food prices, airline fares and rental costs.

The December 2025 CPI was released on February 6 by the Statistics Division under the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Governance.