Electricity prices are soaring
The rise in prices in the energy sector accelerated considerably, reaching +2.7% in October (after +0.7% in September). This development is mainly driven by a notable increase of 10.1% in the price of electricity. As a reminder, this is a consequence of the deliberation of Congress which provides for three successive increases, in October 2024, 2025 and 2026, with a view to rebalancing Enercal’s revenues and expenses.
Conversely, fuel prices fell by 2.5% and gas also recorded a decrease of 1.3%, while the price of coal remained stable. Over one year, energy prices increased by 1.8%.
Generalized increase for manufactured products
Prices of manufactured goods also recorded a notable rebound of 1.3% in October. This general increase concerns in particular clothing (+ 5.9%), furniture and furnishing articles (+ 9.4%), large household appliances (+ 7.1%), pharmaceutical products (+ 1. 2%), games and toys (+ 4.6%), textile household items (+ 5.7%), audiovisual, photographic and computer equipment (+ 1.5%) and shoes (+ 1 .5%).
Services are increasing because of Tanéo
Prices of services increased slightly by 0.4%, driven by the record increase in land transport prices (+23.4%) linked to the price of Tanéo network bus tickets, set at 500 francs. Household waste removal services in certain municipalities in Greater Nouméa participated in this increase (+ 9.1%) by returning, in the third quarter, to their original prices. Also note an increase in the prices of entertainment services (+ 0.7%), passenger maritime transport (+ 7.2%) and sanitation services (+ 0.4%). On the other hand, the prices of international air transport and rents are decreasing (by 1.2% and 0.2% respectively).
Prices for fruits and vegetables are falling
Food prices, finally, are stable. However, those of fruits and vegetables are in sharp decline (-5.6%) due to the annual peak in market gardening production. Prices of meat, dairy products, eggs, and various food products are holding up. Concerning drinks, alcohol prices increased slightly: the increase in the prices of wine (+0.6%) and strong alcohols (+0.7%) was slightly offset by the decrease in the price of beers (-0.3%). %).
For hygiene drinks, prices rose by 3.1% (after +0.8%), driven largely by the prices of fruit juices, soft drinks and syrups. This increase comes as the country’s law establishing a tax on certain food products containing sugar came into force on 1is September 2024.
