Palestinian CPI Surges 23.59% in May, Driven by Gaza’s 43.21% Spike

Gaza: The Palestinian Consumer Price Index (CPI) dramatically increased by 23.59% in May, primarily due to a sharp 43.21% rise in the Gaza Strip compared to April 2025. In contrast, al-Quds saw a marginal 0.09% decrease, and the West Bank a slight 0.05% decrease. According to Yemen News Agency, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) attributed Gaza's surge to the renewed Israeli aggression and limited commercial truck entry, which caused a severe shortage of essential goods like chicken, meat, and dairy products throughout May. The PCBS noted that Gaza's price fluctuations are directly linked to aggression and crossing movements, rather than typical market factors, significantly impacting the overall Palestinian index. Given these sharp regional variations, the PCBS emphasized that the overall Palestinian average index for this "exceptional period" cannot accurately represent changes across all regions, urging a focus on regional cost-of-living data. Comparing May 2025 to May 2024, the overal l CPI in Palestine rose by 47.57%, with Gaza experiencing a staggering 101.42% increase, while Jerusalem and the West Bank saw more modest rises of 1.31% and 0.87%, respectively.