The DANE presented this Friday – August 08 – the updated data of the consumer price index for the month of July, in which the fear of the analysts who pointed to a growth of this indicator was confirmed, due to persistent pressures in the cost of living, mainly from the food line.
According to Piedad Urdinola, director of the DANE, the annual variation of inflation in the seventh Month of the year was 4.90%, data that although it is less than the 6.86% that had a year ago, exceeds 4.82% obtained in June. Likewise, it must be said that the monthly variation went from 0.20% to 0.28% in the last year; while the year corrido fell from 4.32% to 4.02%; This being the only point of relief.
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Among the data presented by the statistical authority, which perhaps caught the most attention was that of the component of non -alcoholic foods and beverages, which was the main responsible for the monthly rebound, with an increase of 0.82% and a contribution of 0.15 percentage points to the total CPI. This group broke the relief trend he had shown in June, when he had registered a monthly -0.08% drop.
Here it should be said that subclasses with the highest incidence were fresh fruits, with an annual increase of 45.04% and monthly of 7.00% in cities such as Neiva; onion (+16.22%monthly), fresh vegetables and legumes (+6.29%), and tomato (+11.27%). In contrast, products such as potatoes (-46.30% per year) They continue in deflationary field, offering partial relief in the household basket.
The cost of living broke down the downward trend in 2025.
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Delivery pressures
On the other hand, the health group showed a monthly rise of 0.39% and an annual variation of 5.36%, contributing 0.06 points to the general result. On the other hand, restaurants and hotels increased 0.35% in the month and 7.59% in the year, becoming the division with the highest annual inflation recorded in July.
Accommodation, water, electricity and gas rose 0.19% monthly and 4.95% per year, despite the fact that the Electricity registered an annual reduction of -4.45%, with monthly drops marked in cities such as Cartagena (-3.03%). The transport, with an annual variation of 5.36%, showed a slight monthly rise of 0.01%.
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The DANE also said that in July, the largest annual RESPORS of the CPI were registered in restaurants and hotels (7.59%) and education (7.56%), followed by transport and health (both with 5.36%). They also highlighted accommodation, water, electricity and gas (4.95%) and alcoholic beverages and tobacco (4.94%); once again putting persistent pressures in essential and frequent consumption services, which maintain high living cost in several segments of the population.
Meanwhile, annual inflations were observed in recreation and culture (2.10%), garments of Dress and footwear (1.72%) and information and communication, which even showed a fall of -1.10%.
The cost of living broke down the downward trend in 2025.
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If it is taken into account that in the monthly financial opinion survey of the Bank of the Republic for July 2025, the monthly inflation expectations between the analysts were in a range between 0.05%and 0.37%, with an average and medium of 0.18%, and a fashion of 0.19%; The data observed by the DANE, of 0.28%, stood above the central market projections.
Differences by cities
When reviewing inflation behavior in the regions, It must be said that Neiva registered the largest monthly variation in the country (0.65%), driven by rising in fresh fruits (+7.00%), onion (+16.22%) and tomato (+11.27%); while the lower contributions came from urban transport (-0.67%) and gas (-0.61%).
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At the other extreme, Cartagena had the lowest monthly variation (-0.10%), with notorious falls in electricity (-3.03%), Arracacha, Ñam and other tubers (-14.83%) and cheeses and related products (-2.76%).
As for annual inflation, the cities with the lowest cost of living in July were Santa Marta (1.92%), Valledupar (3.33%), Riohacha (3.59%) and Montería (3.72%), while the highest were recorded in Pereira (5.98%), Bucaramanga (5.67%) and Valledupar (5.44%).
The cost of living broke down the downward trend in 2025.
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The DANE also measured inflation by income groups. In the last year, high -income households faced an inflation of 5.13%, followed by the middle class households (4.87%), poor households (4.73%) and vulnerable (4.68%), showing that the humble sectors of society are feeling a lower rigor of this scourge.
Regional and International Context
Although the annual inflation of Colombia (4.90%) is above average of the euro zone (2.5% approx.), is located below countries such as Mexico and Chile, which have registered figures near or exceeding 5% in the same month. Compared to July 2023, Colombian inflation has fallen about two percentage points, although the brake on the descending trend raises a challenge to maintain the anchor of expectations.
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In this way, the DANE report shows that, although total inflation remains at moderate levels with respect to 2022 and 2023 peaks, pressures persist from the food and services side; Since the monthly increase of 0.28% interrupts the path of consecutive declines and raises questions about the behavior in the remainder of the year, especially if factors such as climate or cost of energy press prices.
Likewise, the alerts of the Bank of the Republic are supported, which in its recent meeting of TAAS said that the fight against the cost of living is not won and a decreasing trend is not yet perceived that allows to lower interest rates at a more accelerated pace, as the Petro government wants.
Daniel Hernández Naranjo
Portfolio journalist
