Following a delay of several days, the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) and the Statistical Center of Iran (SCI) simultaneously released their inflation reports for April 21–May 21, which, despite varying figures, point to a continuous upward trajectory in prices and intensifying livelihood pressures on households.
The Statistical Center of Iran announced the monthly inflation rate for the country’s households at 8.8%, point-to-point inflation at 83.9%, and the annual inflation rate at 57.7%. Concurrently, the Central Bank, focusing strictly on urban areas, estimated monthly inflation at 8.5%, point-to-point inflation at 77.2%, and annual inflation at 53.9%.
According to the Central Bank’s report, the goods index in Ordibehesht increased by 10% compared to the previous month and surged by 113.8% compared to the same period last year, a statistic that underscores a severe rise in the cost of purchasing everyday items.
The discrepancy between the figures published by the two statistical institutions stems from differences in their target populations, base years, sampling methods, and the weightings assigned to various goods and services. The Statistical Center bases its data on urban and rural households combined, whereas the Central Bank examines urban areas exclusively.
