· Capital Ethiopia · Eyasu Zekarias and Samuel Abate
Rising food prices squeeze household budgets
Summary of the Capital Ethiopia report
Households in Addis Ababa cut back on bread, flour and cooking oil as food prices rise. Official figures for September 2026 show annual inflation of 14.9%, with meat up 22% and oils up 18.2%. Traders at Shola Market report smaller purchases. The city trade bureau and bakers agree on a standard 70 gram loaf, but set no fixed price.
Key points
- Annual inflation was 14.9% in September 2026, and prices rose 1.8% from August to September.
- Meat prices rose 22% in a year, cooking oils and fats 18.2%, and dairy and eggs 17.7%.
- A Shola Market trader says wheat flour rose from 130 birr to 145 birr per kilogram in two weeks.
- The Addis Ababa Trade Bureau and bakers agreed on standard 70 gram loaves, without a fixed retail price.
Real.et analysis
Capital Ethiopia reports that higher food prices force households in Addis Ababa to change what they buy and eat. The story cites the September 2026 consumer price report of the Ethiopian Statistics Service. Prices rose 14.9% in a year and 1.8% in one month. Meat rose 22%, cooking oils and fats 18.2%, dairy and eggs 17.7%, and vegetables 11.4%. At Shola Market, a trader says wheat flour went from 130 birr to 145 birr per kilogram in two weeks. A 100 kg bag of flour costs 12,000 to 14,000 birr. A mother in Lemi Kura says a loaf that cost 60 birr three months ago now costs 100 birr.
What this means for residents
The story shows how families adjust. Some buy flour by the kilogram or half kilogram and not in 5 kg or 10 kg lots. Some buy cooking oil in small bottles and sachets. The article notes that small packs often cost more per unit. If your budget allows it, compare the unit price before you choose the small pack.
Residents of Garment and Adey Ababa told the paper that food costs now cut into money for school, transport, health care, clothes and housing. If you plan a move, set your rent limit after you count food and transport at current prices.
What the city says
The Addis Ababa Trade Bureau met the Bread Manufacturers Association. They agreed on standard 70 gram loaves at prices the bureau calls fair. The bureau did not set a fixed retail price. The bureau head says the city considers support for large bread producers, including land without lease payments. This is a plan under study, not a decision.
An adviser at the Ministry of Agriculture says wheat output meets national demand. He blames brokers, markups and hoarding for the price rise.
What to watch
Watch the monthly inflation figures and the price of the 70 gram loaf in your area. The Merkato page and our shopping guide list the main markets, where bulk prices can be lower than in neighbourhood shops. The central bank also expects high inflation for some months. Read our summary of its November decision.