Families Face Financial Strain: April CPI Records Significant Rise, Pressuring Transport, Housing, and Basic Services Costs

April CPI Reports a Monthly Increase of 1.3%: Highlights Increases in Transport, Housing, and Basic Services

The National Statistics Institute reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for April 2026 saw a monthly variation of 1.3%, accumulating a total of 2.7% for the year and 4.0% over the past twelve months, amid significant increases in fuel, transport, and basic services.

According to the statistical bulletin, the transport sector was the primary driver of this increase, recording a monthly variation of 8.0% and contributing 1.011 percentage points to the overall CPI. Within this category, personal vehicle fuels surged by 27.9%, becoming the main inflationary pressure for the month.

The report detailed that gasoline prices rose by 25.3% on a monthly basis, directly impacting the overall index by 0.774 percentage points, and accumulating an increase of 29.7% throughout 2026. Even more drastic was the rise in diesel prices, which jumped 45.7% in April and accumulated an increase of 55.7% for the year, a situation that could affect transportation costs, distribution, and supply chains.

Inflationary pressures also extended to housing and basic services, which saw a rise of 0.8% in April. Among the most affected products was liquefied gas, which increased by 5.8% monthly, while gas in general rose by 4.5%. Rent also recorded a 0.6% increase, further amplifying the financial burden on households.

The INE document also highlighted the effects on passenger transport. Intercity bus transport saw a monthly increase of 18.6%, while other road passenger transport rose by 5.0%, reinforcing the connection between rising fuel costs and the daily expenses faced by citizens for commuting and transporting goods.

Although some categories experienced declines—such as clothing and footwear, which fell by 1.8%, and specific items like bananas and mobile phone equipment—the substantial impact of energy and transportation costs dominated the monthly inflation figures. The report itself noted that the energy component recorded a monthly variation of 11.4%, solidifying its status as one of the main economic pressure points for Chilean families.

View the complete bulletin at the following INE link