Mexico's inflation ends the first half of August at 3.26%; Quintana Roo among the states with the biggest rise
According to INEGI, prices rose 0.10% from the prior two-week period; eggs, onions and taxi fares pushed spending higher, while LP gas and several vegetables fell.
The cost of living in Mexico stayed close to the official target during the first half of August 2026. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), the National Consumer Price Index (INPC) reached a level of 145.393 units, up 0.10% from the prior two-week period, with annual general inflation of 3.26%, within the central bank's target range (3% plus or minus one point).
The figure has two components worth separating. Core inflation —which strips out the most volatile prices and better reflects the underlying trend— stood at 3.93% annually, while the non-core measure (farm goods, energy and government-set fees) came in at 0.96%. Among the items that rose most were eggs, onions, taxi service and owner-occupied housing; on the other side, domestic LP gas, potatoes and other tubers, tomatoes and chicken all fell in price.
What it means for Quintana Roo. INEGI reported that Quintana Roo was one of the states with the largest price increase for the period, up 0.28%, above the national average; in the region, Yucatán rose 0.68% and Tabasco 0.81%. For households in Cancún, where much of the income depends on tourism and services, a stable-price environment helps with budgeting, but pricier eggs and some vegetables are felt immediately at the grocery store.
How to protect your wallet. INEGI itself publishes the INPC detail by city and product, and the Federal Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco) runs the "Quién es Quién en los Precios" comparison tool, a free online service to check where the same product costs less before you buy. A few habits help soften the blow: comparing prices across markets and supermarkets, taking advantage of seasonal items that dropped (like tomatoes and chicken), and temporarily swapping out the ones that rose. For anyone with a loan or savings, it's worth remembering that inflation near 3% preserves purchasing power far better than in recent years, when it topped 8%.
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The Finance Ministry, the central bank and regulators concluded the system can absorb shocks, even though the peso lost more than 5% over the period reviewed.
The 24-item basket cost between 739.90 and 911.77 pesos in the September 14–18 survey; the consumer agency also reported diesel prices and the best remittance service.
INEGI confirmed GDP rose 1.4% quarter-on-quarter and 1.9% year-on-year from April to June, with services —the engine of Cancún's economy— up 1.4 percent.
The central bank keeps its benchmark rate unchanged and warns that services inflation is still pushing up prices; borrowing will stay expensive for a while.