The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) announced on Sunday that the Consumer Price Index (CPI)—the cost of living index—in Palestine decreased by 0.40% during May 2026 compared to April.
اضافة اعلان
The PCBS explained in a statement that this decrease resulted from a 0.97% drop in the index within the West Bank and a 0.32% decline in Jerusalem, while the Gaza Strip recorded a slight increase of 0.30%.
The 0.40% drop in Palestine's CPI during the monitored month, compared to the previous month, was driven by a 15.80% decrease in the prices of dried vegetables, an 11.91% decrease in fresh vegetables, and a 10.29% decline in grain flour (white flour). Furthermore, prices fell for fresh fruits by 8.32%, sugar substitutes and other confectionery by 6.96%, potatoes by 5.94%, liquid automotive fuel (diesel) by 3.58%, vegetable oils by 3.57%, and rice by 1.81%. The primary driver was the lower prices of these commodities in the Gaza Strip.
The data indicated that when comparing prices in May 2026 to May 2025, the CPI in Palestine fell by 36.96%. This marked a sharp 59.96% drop in the Gaza Strip, whereas the index rose by 3.21% in Jerusalem and 2.69% in the West Bank.
In the West Bank, the CPI registered a 0.97% decrease due to a drop in the prices of fresh vegetables by 18.71%, eggs by 11.30%, gas by 9.80%, dried vegetables by 7.60%, fresh chicken by 2.03%, liquid automotive fuel (diesel) by 3.57%, vegetable oils by 1.06%, and potatoes by 1.02%.
Average prices for specific commodities in the West Bank dropped as follows: large vine tomatoes and zucchini each averaged 5 Shekels/kg; okra stood at 23 Shekels/kg; hot peppers at 7 Shekels/kg; greenhouse cucumbers at 4 Shekels/kg; a 2kg carton of eggs and chicken each stood at 18 Shekels; a 12kg gas cylinder was priced at 91 Shekels; dry onions and potatoes each stood at 3 Shekels/kg; dry garlic at 14 Shekels/kg; diesel at 8.10 Shekels/liter; and olive oil at 42 Shekels/kg.
In Jerusalem, the CPI recorded a 0.32% decrease in May 2026 compared to April 2026. This resulted from a decline in the prices of dried vegetables by 17.81%, fresh vegetables by 11.03%, fresh fruits by 5.33%, eggs by 5.11%, potatoes by 4.46%, fresh chicken by 2.58%, and rice by 2.30%.
Average commodity prices in Jerusalem also saw decreases: dry onions averaged 4 Shekels/kg; dry garlic 24 Shekels/kg; large vine tomatoes 8 Shekels/kg; zucchini 11 Shekels/kg; cauliflower 7 Shekels/kg; greenhouse cucumbers 4 Shekels/kg; bananas 7 Shekels/kg; eggs 33 Shekels per 2kg carton; potatoes 5 Shekels/kg; chicken 23 Shekels/kg; and long-grain rice stood at 43 Shekels per 5kg.
In the Gaza Strip, the CPI recorded a 0.30% increase last month compared to the preceding month.
Average commodity prices in Gaza rose to the following levels: bread averaged 3.17 Shekels/kg; eggs 51 Shekels per 2kg carton; a 12kg gas cylinder reached 730 Shekels; and tea stood at 12 Shekels per 100-bag packet.
The PCBS noted that the Israeli Shekel (ILS) was used to price goods and services, adding that the monthly average exchange rate of the US Dollar against the Shekel for May 2026 stood at 2.91 Shekels/Dollar.
Source: Wafa News Agency
