Laos’ inflation rate rose to 7.8 percent in September, up from 7.7 percent in August, with education, utility, and some seasonal costs contributing to the increase, according to the Ministry of Finance.
The latest increase came as the new school year began, with education costs rising 18.8 percent from a year earlier. Families also faced higher costs for tuition, uniforms, and textbooks.
The biggest increase came in housing, water, electricity, and cooking gas, where prices rose 30.7 percent from a year earlier. Transportation and communication costs also increased, while health and medicine became more expensive.
Officials attributed September’s increase to higher fuel prices, adjustments to education costs, and seasonal price increases.
Inflation Averages 7.9 Percent
Despite the September increase, inflation averaged 7.9 percent during the first nine months of 2026, down from 8.8 percent during the same period last year.
The biggest pressure over the nine-month period came from other goods and services, largely due to higher gold prices. Housing and utility costs also remained a major source of price increases, driven by electricity and water prices and higher costs for construction materials.
Education and healthcare costs continued to rise, while higher fuel prices pushed up transportation costs.
Fuel and Utilities Add Pressure
Officials linked the broader rise in prices to several factors, including higher global oil prices following conflicts in the Middle East. Higher fuel prices then fed into costs for transportation and other goods and services.
Government adjustments to electricity and water prices also contributed, while seasonal changes pushed up the prices of some goods.
Officials also acknowledged that Laos’ systems for monitoring price increases and decreases remain insufficiently strict.
