Continued Rise in Basic Consumer Goods Prices in Gaza Strip

SadaNews - The increase in prices of basic consumer goods in the Gaza Strip continues for the second consecutive month due to instability in the sector's markets.

The consumer price index in the Gaza Strip recorded a sharp increase of 12.42% in March 2026 compared to February 2026. The index also recorded an increase of 0.75% in the West Bank** and 0.62% in Jerusalem J1*, which pushed the overall consumer price index in Palestine to record an increase of 5.27%.

The consumer price index recorded an increase of 5.27% in Palestine during March 2026 compared to February 2026, due to a rise in the prices of dried vegetables by 157.26%, potatoes by 104.24%, gas by 47.53%, fresh vegetables by 45.48%, white flour by 43.72%, fresh fruits by 21.26%, fresh chicken by 16.23%, vegetable oils by 14.33%, eggs by 11.31%, sugar substitutes and other sugars by 10.49%, liquid fuel used for vehicle fuel "diesel" by 5.57%, "gasoline" by 5.16%, fresh meats by 5.42%, rice by 3.97%, and bread by 3.82%. The main reason was the increase in the prices of those goods in the Gaza Strip.

When comparing prices in March 2026 to March 2025, data indicates an increase in the consumer price index in Palestine by 3.02% (5.01% in the Gaza Strip, 2.94% in Jerusalem J1*, and 1.40% in the West Bank**).

The Consumer Price Index at the Level of Palestinian Areas:

The consumer price index in the Gaza Strip recorded a sharp increase of 12.42% during March 2026 compared to February 2026, attributed to instability in the sector's markets where the prices of basic consumer goods continued to rise significantly.

Prices for the following goods significantly increased in the Gaza Strip to reach an average of: dried onions 13 shekels/kg, dried garlic 20 shekels/kg, potatoes 12 shekels/kg, flour 65 shekels/25kg, tomatoes (greenhouse) 22 shekels/kg, eggplant 18 shekels/kg, hot peppers 50 shekels/kg, sweet peppers 34 shekels/kg, cabbage 9 shekels/kg, greenhouse cucumbers 16 shekels/kg, gas cylinder 679 shekels/12kg cylinder, bread 2.35 shekels/kg, chicken 31 shekels/kg, sunflower oil 36 shekels/3 liters, oranges 8 shekels/kg, lemons 14 shekels/kg, bananas and apples 15 shekels/kg each, pomegranate and zucchini 17 shekels/kg each, avocado and cauliflower 11 shekels/kg each, cola 4 shekels/330ml can, eggs 40 shekels/2kg, long grain rice 8 shekels/kg, dry lentils 7 shekels/kg, dry beans 6 shekels/kg, sugar 5 shekels/kg, frozen beef 50 shekels/kg, diesel 34 shekels/liter, coffee 127 shekels/kg, and "95" gasoline 81 shekels/liter.

Increase in the Cost of Living Index in the West Bank:

The consumer price index in the West Bank recorded an increase of 0.75% during March 2026 compared to February 2026. This was attributed to rising prices of fresh vegetables by 15.78%, liquid fuel used for vehicle fuel "diesel" by 4.75%, fresh chicken by 4.42%, fresh fruits by 3.32%, gas by 2.26%, liquid fuel used for vehicle fuel "gasoline" by 2.00%, vegetable oils by 1.94%, and fresh meats by 1.17%.

Prices for the following goods increased in the West Bank to reach an average of: tomatoes (greenhouse) 9 shekels/kg, okra 26 shekels/kg, cucumber (greenhouse) 7 shekels/kg, diesel 5.96 shekels/liter, chicken 18 shekels/kg, bananas 7 shekels/kg, pomegranate 12 shekels/kg, gas cylinder 77 shekels/12kg cylinder, "95" gasoline 6.85 shekels/liter, olive oil 42 shekels/kg, fresh lamb 98 shekels/kg, fresh beef 70 shekels/kg.

Increase in the Cost of Living Index in Jerusalem J1*:

The consumer price index in Jerusalem J1* recorded an increase of 0.62% during March 2026 compared to February 2026, due to price increases for fresh vegetables by 23.43%, dried vegetables by 17.45%, potatoes by 5.73%, eggs by 3.06%, liquid fuel used for vehicle fuel "diesel" by 2.07%, "gasoline" by 1.80%, and gas by 1.98%.

Prices for the following goods increased in Jerusalem J1* to reach an average of: tomatoes (greenhouse) 15 shekels/kg, sweet peppers 12 shekels/kg, greenhouse cucumbers 13 shekels/kg, dried onions 4 shekels/kg, potatoes 5 shekels/kg, eggs 35 shekels/2kg, diesel 6.91 shekels/liter, "95" gasoline 7.27 shekels/liter, and gas cylinder 138 shekels/12kg cylinder.