Inflation
Inflation is the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) relative to the immediately preceding period of equal length, measuring the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services purchased by households changes over time. A positive rate indicates a general increase in prices, while a negative rate indicates deflation. The CPI basket, weighting methodology, and base year vary across countries and may be revised periodically by national statistical offices or central banks. This indicator is published in the Latin Macro Watch dataset maintained by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), supporting price-dynamics and monetary-policy analysis across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Coverage
Data are available for 25 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean at annual, monthly, and quarterly frequency, spanning 1990 to 2026. Values are reported as a rate and as a rate, end of period. End-of-period values correspond to the rate in the last month of the reference period against the previous last month; average values correspond to the mean of the monthly rates within the period against the previous period.
Sources
Figures are compiled from official national statistical agencies and central banks, including INEGI - Mexico, INDEC - Argentina, Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas (INE) de Chile, Banco de la República de Colombia, and Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada, among other agencies across the region.
Metadata & use
| Format | CSV |
|---|---|
| Language | en |
| Country |
Argentina
Bahamas
Trinidad & Tobago
Belize
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
El Salvador
Jamaica
Mexico
Nicaragua
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Panama
Uruguay
Venezuela
Barbados
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
|
| Data notes |
What does the Inflation indicator measure?It measures the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) relative to the preceding period of equal length, capturing how fast the general level of household prices changes. A positive rate means rising prices; a negative rate means deflation. How many countries and which periods are covered?The indicator covers 25 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean from 1990 to 2026, at annual, monthly, and quarterly frequency. What is the difference between end-of-period and average rates?The series is reported as a rate and a rate, end of period. End-of-period values use the rate in the last month of the reference period against the previous last month; average values use the mean of the monthly rates within the period against the previous period. Where does the data come from?Figures are compiled from official national statistical agencies and central banks, including INEGI - Mexico, INDEC - Argentina, Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas (INE) de Chile, Banco de la República de Colombia, and Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada. What are typical uses of this indicator?It is used to monitor price stability, assess monetary policy and central-bank inflation targets, deflate nominal series into real terms, and compare price dynamics across countries in the region. How do I cite this indicator?Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Latin Macro Watch — "Inflation". data.iadb.org/dataset/latin-macro-watch-dataset. |