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Rabat – Morocco’s cost of living edged down slightly in May, offering brief relief to households after months of price uncertainty.
According to data from the High Commission for Planning (HCP), the consumer price index (CPI) fell by 0.4% compared to April, pulled down mainly by declines in food and fuel prices.
The drop in food prices, down 0.8% overall, reflected lower costs for everyday staples.
Vegetables dropped by 2.1%, fish and seafood by 1.7%, meat by 1.5%, and dairy products by 1%. Basic items like bread, cereals, fruits, and cooking oils also saw slight declines. Only one category, coffee, tea, and cocoa, went up, rising by 0.8%.
Non-food products saw a smaller shift, with a 0.1% decline. Fuel prices, however, fell more sharply, by 2.7%, easing transport costs for many.
Across the country, the biggest local drops appeared in Beni-Mellal, Safi, and Tangier, where prices decreased by more than 1%.
Smaller declines affected cities like Fez, Casablanca, and Rabat. However, some areas, including Laayoune and Al Hoceima, recorded slight increases.
Compared to last year, prices rose by 0.4% in May. Food went up by 0.5%, and non-food goods by 0.3%. Within the non-food category, transportation costs fell significantly, by 4.3%, while restaurant and hotel prices climbed by nearly 4%.
Meanwhile, core inflation, which excludes the most volatile items like food and energy, held steady compared to April but stood 1.1% higher than a year earlier.
In simple terms, Morocco’s inflation appears to cool slightly, driven by seasonal dips in food and global fuel adjustments.
Yet, inflation remains a nuisance to Moroccan households. The modest monthly decline offers only temporary relief, as year-on-year figures still point to a continuous rise in costs. For many, the pinch on daily expenses remains unchanged, keeping pressure on already tight budgets.
