Mining, manufacturing pushes producer inflation to 4.8%

Ghana’s producer inflation rose to 4.8 per cent in September 2026 from 4.4 per cent in August, driven mainly by higher prices in mining and manufacturing.

The September rate was higher than the 3.2 per cent recorded a year earlier, although monthly producer inflation slowed to 1.3 per cent from 2.5 per cent in August. The Ghana Statistical Service disclosed the figures during a virtual presentation of the latest Producer Price Index (PPI).

Data from the Service showed that the industrial sector, excluding construction, recorded the highest annual producer inflation rate among the major sectors at 7.2 per cent, up from 6.3 per cent in August. Construction inflation rose to 4.7 per cent from 4.5 per cent, while services inflation slowed to 1.4 per cent from 1.8 per cent.

Mining and quarrying remained the largest contributor to producer inflation, recording a rate of 5.5 per cent and accounting for about half of the overall increase. Producer prices in crude oil and natural gas extraction increased by 18.3 per cent during the period. Mining support service activities recorded inflation of 5.3 per cent, while other mining and quarrying activities declined by 2.8 per cent.

Metal ore mining fell by 2.3 per cent. Manufacturing inflation rose to 4.6 per cent in September from 3.6 per cent in August and 1.7 per cent a year earlier. Mining and manufacturing activities together accounted for more than 80 per cent of overall producer inflation.

Within manufacturing, the highest price increases were recorded in leather and related products, fabricated metal products, furniture, machinery and equipment, and basic metals.

Inflation in electricity and gas eased to 9.8 per cent from 12.3 per cent in August. Water supply and waste management also slowed to 8.3 per cent from 10.1 per cent.

Construction sector inflation was led by building construction at seven per cent, followed by specialised construction activities at 4.8 per cent and civil engineering at 3.7 per cent.

In the services sector, transport and storage prices rose by 5.8 per cent, reflecting increased cost pressures in transport-related activities.

Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, Government Statistician, said producer prices remained an important indicator of cost pressures within the economy. He said the index measured changes in prices at the factory gate before goods and services reached consumers. “Businesses can use these data to plan costs and prices. Households can use them to plan budgets,” he said.

Dr Iddrisu said rising production costs could eventually feed into consumer prices and should be closely monitored. He encouraged businesses to use the data for pricing and cost management decisions, while policymakers track emerging pressures in sectors such as mining, manufacturing and energy.

The September PPI was based on price information collected from 603 establishments covering 2,639 products nationwide.

By Francis Ntow

GNA

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