2026.09.3009:44:50UTC+00Sri Lanka Producer Inflation Eases Slightly in August

Producer prices in Sri Lanka rose by 5.2% year-on-year in August 2026, easing slightly from an upwardly revised 5.4% increase in July.

In the agricultural sector, prices grew by 2.6%, rebounding from a modest 0.1% rise in the previous month. This turnaround was mainly driven by stronger price gains for non-perennial crops (9.6% vs 3.5%) and animal production (17.3% vs 14.8%), while prices for perennial crops continued to fall, though at a slightly slower pace (-7.8% vs -8.8%).

Manufacturing prices increased by 5.1%, down from 5.6% in July. The sector was supported by a sharp acceleration in prices for coke and refined petroleum products (63.3% vs 56.7%), partially offset by a moderation in price growth for rubber and plastics products (13.1% vs 15.1%).

In the utilities sector, inflation in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply eased to 23.9% from 27.0%, while prices for water collection, treatment and supply inched up to 5.4% from 5.3%.

On a monthly basis, producer prices rose 0.5% in August, slowing from a 0.7% increase in July.