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| Economic Consulting Group

TICGL | Economic Consulting Group
Evaluation of Tanzania's Inflation Rates
January 9, 2026  
Tanzania Inflation Analysis 2025-2026: Regional Leadership & Economic Stability | TICGL Tanzania's Inflation Leadership: Comprehensive 2025 Analysis & 2026 Outlook Regional Performance, Investment Implications & Economic Projections Introduction Tanzania demonstrated superior inflation management in 2025, achieving an annual average of 3.3% and outperforming regional peers Kenya (4.1%) and Uganda (3.6%). Despite food inflation surging from […]
Tanzania Inflation Analysis 2025-2026: Regional Leadership & Economic Stability | TICGL

Tanzania's Inflation Leadership: Comprehensive 2025 Analysis & 2026 Outlook

Regional Performance, Investment Implications & Economic Projections

Introduction

Tanzania demonstrated superior inflation management in 2025, achieving an annual average of 3.3% and outperforming regional peers Kenya (4.1%) and Uganda (3.6%). Despite food inflation surging from 2.1% to 6.4%, the country maintained exceptional stability through declining core inflation (3.4% to 2.2%) and non-food inflation (3.5% to 2.0%).

3.3% 2025 Average Inflation
1st Rank in East Africa
8/12 Months as Best Performer
3.8% 2026 Forecast

1. Regional Inflation Performance Comparison (2025)

MonthTanzania (%)Kenya (%)Uganda (%)Best Performer
Jan 20253.13.33.6Tanzania
Feb 20253.23.53.7Tanzania
Mar 20253.33.63.4Uganda
Apr 20253.24.13.5Tanzania
May 20253.23.83.8Tanzania
Jun 20253.33.83.9Tanzania
Jul 20253.34.13.8Tanzania
Aug 20253.44.53.8Tanzania
Sep 20253.44.64.0Tanzania
Oct 20253.54.63.4Uganda
Nov 20253.44.53.1Uganda
Dec 20253.64.53.1Uganda
Annual Average3.34.13.6Tanzania
Key Insight: Tanzania ranked first (lowest inflation) in 8 out of 12 months in 2025 and was never the worst performer in any month. Kenya showed highest volatility, peaking at 4.6% in September-October 2025.

2. Tanzania's Inflation Components (December 2025)

CategoryWeight (%)12-Month Change (%)Status
Food & Non-alcoholic Beverages28.26.7⚠️ High Pressure
Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco1.93.4Moderate
Clothing & Footwear10.82.0✅ Well-controlled
Housing, Water, Utilities15.12.3✅ Stable
Furnishings & Household7.93.0Moderate
Health2.51.3✅ Excellent
Transport14.14.1Elevated
Information & Communication5.40.5✅ Minimal
Recreation & Culture1.60.3✅ Minimal
Education Services2.02.9Moderate
Restaurants & Accommodation6.60.9✅ Low
Core Inflation73.92.5✅ Strong Control
Non-Core Inflation26.16.7⚠️ Volatile
TOTAL - ALL ITEMS100.03.6Target Range
Critical Finding: The divergence between Core (2.5%) and Non-Core (6.7%) inflation indicates that price pressures are concentrated in volatile components rather than broad-based, suggesting effective monetary policy and underlying economic stability.

3. Historical Comparison: 2024 vs 2025 Trends

Category2024 Average (%)2025 Average (%)Change (pp)Trend
Headline Inflation3.13.3+0.2↗️ Slight increase
Food Inflation2.16.4+4.3⚠️ Sharp increase
Non-Food Inflation3.52.0-1.5✅ Strong decline
Core Inflation3.42.2-1.2✅ Significant improvement
Non-Core Inflation2.26.2+4.0⚠️ Major increase
Key Finding: The 2025 inflation story is about divergence—volatile food and non-core items surged while core and non-food items improved dramatically. This suggests inflation is not demand-driven but rather supply-side and weather-related.

4. Investment & Competitive Advantages

FactorTanzaniaKenyaUgandaTanzania Advantage
2025 Average Inflation3.3%4.1%3.6%✅ Lowest
Stability (Std Dev)~0.15~0.53~0.29✅ Most stable
Core Inflation2.2%N/AN/A✅ Well-controlled
Months as Best Performer8/120/124/12✅ Clear leader
Purchasing PowerBestWorstMiddle✅ Investment appeal

Investment Implications

  • Currency Stability: Lower inflation supports Tanzanian Shilling strength
  • Real Returns: Better environment for fixed-income investments
  • Cost Competitiveness: Lower input costs for businesses operating regionally
  • Consumer Confidence: Stable prices support domestic demand growth

5. 2026 Inflation Projections & Forecast

CountryBaseline Forecast (%)Range (%)Key Sources
Tanzania3.83.0 - 4.2BoT, Trading Economics, TICGL
Kenya4.84.0 - 5.2IMF (5.2%), World Bank (5.0%)
Uganda3.73.3 - 4.2Trading Economics, Deloitte/EIU

Tanzania 2026 Quarterly Projections

QuarterProjected Inflation (%)Expected Trend
Q1 20262.7Below 2025 average
Q2 20263.1Gradual increase
Q3 20262.7Stabilization
Q4 20262.9Year-end stability
2026 Average~2.9Below 2025

Bank of Tanzania Policy Framework

IndicatorCurrent Status2026 TargetPolicy Stance
Policy Rate5.75%MaintainedAccommodative
Inflation Target3-5%3-5%On target
GDP Growth5.5-6.0%5.5-6.0%Supportive
Foreign ReservesImprovingStablePositive

6. Risk Scenarios & Analysis for 2026

Optimistic Scenario (30% Probability)

Inflation Range: 3.0 - 3.5% | GDP Impact: 6.0%+ growth

Key Drivers: Good rainfall patterns, stable food supply, global commodity price moderation, continued strong monetary policy management.

Baseline Scenario (50% Probability)

Inflation Range: 3.5 - 4.2% | GDP Impact: 5.5-6.0% growth

Key Drivers: Normal weather conditions, Bank of Tanzania targets met, regional stability maintained, accommodative monetary policy continues.

Risk Scenario (20% Probability)

Inflation Range: 4.5 - 6.0% | GDP Impact: 4.5-5.0% growth

Key Drivers: Drought conditions, political tensions related to potential elections, global economic shocks, currency depreciation pressures.

Specific Risk Factors & Impact Assessment

Risk FactorImpact on InflationProbabilityPotential Addition (pp)
Drought/Agricultural ShockFood prices surgeMedium+1.0 to +1.5
Political Instability (Elections)Supply disruptionsLow-Medium+0.5 to +1.0
Global Oil Price SpikeTransport, energy costsMedium+0.5 to +0.8
Currency DepreciationImport pricesLow+0.3 to +0.5
Regional Food ShortagesCross-border food pricesMedium+0.5 to +1.0
Climate Events (El Niño)Agricultural productionMedium-High+1.0 to +2.0

7. Key Monitoring Indicators for 2026

CategoryIndicators to MonitorImpact ChannelPriority
AgricultureRainfall patterns, crop yields, livestock healthDirect food prices (28.2% of CPI)Critical
EnergyGlobal oil prices, diesel/petrol local pricingTransport (14.1%), utilities (5.7%)High
CurrencyTZS/USD exchange rate, foreign reservesImport prices, goods inflationHigh
RegionalEAC inflation trends, cross-border tradeFood supply, competitive pressuresMedium-High
PolicyBoT rate decisions, fiscal policyInterest rates, demand-sideMedium
PoliticalElection preparations, stabilitySupply chains, investor confidenceMedium

8. Strategic Recommendations

For Policymakers

  • Enhance Agricultural Resilience: Invest in irrigation infrastructure, storage facilities, and climate-smart agriculture to mitigate food supply shocks.
  • Monitor Food Supply Chains: Implement early warning systems for potential shortages and price spikes.
  • Maintain Policy Credibility: Keep Bank of Tanzania policy rate aligned with 3-5% inflation target band.
  • Build Foreign Exchange Reserves: Strengthen buffers against external shocks and currency pressures.
  • Ensure Political Stability: Facilitate smooth electoral processes to maintain investor confidence.

For Businesses

  • Leverage Tanzania's Stability: Use competitive inflation advantage in regional operations and pricing strategies.
  • Hedge Food Price Risks: Diversify supply chains and consider forward contracts for agricultural commodities.
  • Plan for 3.5-4.5% Inflation: Budget conservatively with mid-range inflation assumptions.
  • Monitor Q1 2026 Data: First NBS release scheduled for February 9, 2026 will set the year's tone.

For Investors

  • Best Risk-Adjusted Environment: Tanzania offers superior inflation stability compared to regional peers.
  • Fixed-Income Attractiveness: Real returns supported by low, stable inflation and 5.75% policy rate.
  • Currency Stability: Tanzanian Shilling better positioned than regional currencies.
  • Agricultural Investment Opportunities: Supply gaps present opportunities in food production and processing sectors.

Conclusion & Key Takeaways

Tanzania's 2025 Performance Highlights

  • Best-in-class regional inflation management with 3.3% annual average
  • Exceptional core inflation control at 2.2% (down from 3.4% in 2024)
  • Most stable trajectory among all East African peers
  • ⚠️ Food inflation vulnerability remains key risk at 6.4% in 2025

2026 Outlook Summary

  • Expected Range: 3.0-4.2% (baseline: 3.8%)
  • Regional Leadership: Tanzania likely to maintain best performance if no major shocks
  • Key Risks: Agricultural production, political stability, global commodity prices
  • Supportive Factors: BoT policy credibility, stable currency, improving foreign reserves
Bottom Line: Tanzania is well-positioned to maintain low and stable inflation in 2026, continuing to outperform regional peers. The combination of strong core inflation control (2.5%) and accommodative monetary policy supporting 5.5-6% GDP growth creates a favorable environment for investment and economic development. However, vigilance on food security and weather patterns remains essential.

Data Sources: National Bureau of Statistics Tanzania (NBS), Bank of Tanzania (BoT), Trading Economics, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, Tanzania Investment and Consultant Group Limited (TICGL), Deloitte/Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

Next Update: January 2026 NCPI Release - February 9, 2026

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