INFLATION HITS 16.14%: Former Finance Minister Tweah Reveals
- Michael T
- Sep 17
- 2 min read
Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia is now facing its highest price pressures since the post-CDC era, as new figures reveal inflation has soared to 16.14% since January 2024. According to former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah, the latest LISGIS Consumer Price Index (CPI) confirms what most Liberians already feel: prices are sharply higher, impacting every “bread and butter” item—from bags of rice to fares for public transport.
A head of rice, once L$100 under CDC, would now cost L$116.14. The steep increase affects essential commodities such as rice, fish, flour, gasoline, and household services, mirroring the severe economic stress voiced daily in markets and communities nationwide. The CPI rise, measured by LISGIS and echoed in government and global financial bulletins, leaves no room for debate: economic hardship is worsening, and any suggestion otherwise is not supported by facts.
Despite modest growth projections—Liberia’s economy is set to expand by 5.6% this year—the benefits are not trickling down. Instead, price surges are outpacing wage gains, swiftly eroding purchasing power. Vendors and market women, constrained by high import costs and supply disruptions, have struggled to pass on any relief to consumers, with Senator Amara Konneh recently observing at Monrovia markets, “Prices may rise quickly, but they fall slowly”.
Although officials highlight that inflation eased to just under 10% mid-year—off its early 2025 peak—families have yet to see reprieve at the checkout counter. Central Bank policies, including a 17.25% monetary policy rate, aim to steady the situation, but experts warn downward price movement will be gradual due to Liberia’s heavy reliance on imports and seasonal transport issues.
With inflation at 16.14%, the big question is whether September will breach the 17% threshold. The underlying drivers—currency issues, high international shipping costs, persistent market mark-ups—mean all eyes are on monthly CPI releases from LISGIS as the end of 2025 nears. Policymakers face urgent calls for both fiscal discipline and dynamic reforms to ensure headline growth benefits the ordinary Liberian.
It is important to emphasize that this assessment is based on a comparative analysis of inflation rates—using January 2024, the period when CDC left office, as the base. The latest LISGIS CPI data shows that prices today are 16.14% higher than they were under CDC, confirming that the current level of hardship is not imagined, but objectively measured against a clear political and economic benchmark.
Tweah stressed: “No misinformation should be accepted about economic hardship. The data says things are harder now. The people say things are harder now. Will we hit the 17 percent mark? The nation waits and watches.”
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