Inflation down on Bonaire and Saba, up on St Eustatius

News item | 22-10-2025 | 16:53

In the third quarter of 2025, consumer goods and services on Bonaire were 3.3 percent more expensive, year on year. In Q2, inflation was 5.3 percent. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this on the basis of the consumer price index for the Caribbean Netherlands.

Decoratief: Foto van iemand die boodschappen aan het doen is in een supermarkt

Prices on Saba in Q3 were up by 3.5 percent on the same quarter last year, compared to 4.2 percent in Q2. Inflation on St Eustatius stood at 1.9 percent in Q3, compared to 1.1 percent in Q2.

Prices on Bonaire down by 0.8 percent

In Q3 2025, prices on Bonaire were down by 0.8 percent from Q2 2025. This decrease was mainly due to prices for housing, water and energy, which fell by 6.4 percent, on average. Prices for water supply and electricity fell by 29.0 percent and 6.9 percent, respectively. This is because drinking water and energy subsidies – which were discontinued at the beginning of 2025 – were reintroduced in the third quarter.

Prices for food products and non-alcoholic beverages in Q3 were 1.6 percent higher than they were in Q2. Passenger transport by air became 12.8 percent more expensive.

Prices on Saba also decreased

On Saba, prices fell by 0.1 percent in Q3 2025 compared to Q2 2025. This was mainly due to prices for housing, water and energy, which fell just as they did on Bonaire. Electricity prices fell by 11.3 percent as a result of the reintroduction of the energy subsidy. Prices for water supply fell by 10.6 percent. Prices for clothing and footwear increased by 3.2 percent compared with Q2, particularly children’s and women’s clothing and men’s trousers.

Prices for food products and non-alcoholic beverages were up by 1.2 percent, mainly due to higher prices for fresh vegetables.

Prices on St Eustatius up by 1.0 percent on Q2

On St Eustatius, consumer prices rose by 1.0 percent in Q3 compared with Q2. Clothing and footwear became 3.4 percent more expensive. Just as on Saba, the largest price increases were seen in women's and children's clothing, men's trousers and men's shoes. Food products and non alcoholic beverages were 1.2 percent more expensive, mainly due to higher prices for fresh fruit and vegetables.

Water and electricity became cheaper compared to Q2. As on Bonaire, this was caused by the reintroduction of drinking water and energy subsidies, which had been discontinued early this year.