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Life in Addis Ababa: markets, prices, services and changes that residents notice.
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· Capital Ethiopia
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.
· TechAfrica News
Ethio Telecom reports revenue of ETB 215.82 billion for the 2025/26 fiscal year, up 33.2%, and 90.12 million customers. Its mobile money service telebirr has 60.6 million customers and 440,100 merchants. Fixed broadband passes 1 million subscriptions. 4G reaches 1,200 towns and 5G is in 33 cities. Nearly 32 million people registered for the digital ID through the company.
· The Reporter
Addis Ababa has digitised its land titles and maps and adopted a rule to dismiss staff implicated in land fraud. City officials also told the council that 179,000 housing units are under construction, that side agreements on rent are banned and that a standard lease form is mandatory for all rental contracts.
· ENA
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed opens a 9.6 km riverside section in Addis Ababa, from the Entoto Qusquam area to Kechene. It is part of the Sheger Project, planned to continue to Peacock Park and Bole. Trails now connect Entoto, Kechene and Piazza for walkers and cyclists. Cafes are under construction, and river water treatment is not complete.
· The Reporter
A fuel shortage of more than three weeks turns commutes in Addis Ababa into long waits. At Megenagna, crowded minibuses charge 60 birr to Goro. Drivers queue for days or pay 500 to 600 birr per litre on the black market. The transport bureau gives public transport first access to fuel. The government says daily diesel supply returns to 9 million litres.
· ENA
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed opens Addis Sports Park, a 5.7 hectare site in Addis Ababa. It has an Olympic-standard pool, football, basketball and tennis courts, an 800 metre running track and a playground. A plaza holds 3,000 people and the basement has parking for 300 vehicles. The project includes 105 shops for relocated community members.
· The Reporter
The Ethiopian Electric Utility says household power is still sold at a loss, at about USD 0.005 per kWh, and defends its quarterly tariff increases. The increases started in September 2024 and continue until 2028 under the programme agreed with the IMF. Low-use households keep low rates. The utility plans to move all customers to prepaid meters.
· Xinhua
Addis Ababa received 699,761 foreign tourists in the first half of the 2025/26 Ethiopian fiscal year, 15% more than a year before, says Mayor Adanech Abiebie. The visitors brought 155 billion birr in revenue. The city also counted 4.9 million domestic tourists. Nearly 150 international and continental events took place in the six months, a rise of 50%.