Increased domestic demand and higher energy costs, including fuel prices, were the main factors driving inflation in February 2026, according to a report released based on the latest report from the Lao Statistical Office on Friday.
The highest price increases were recorded in the goods and services category, at 37 percent. Other categories that pushed up inflation included housing, water, electricity, and gas at 24.3 percent; medical care and pharmaceuticals at 13 percent; and education at 11.7 percent.
The Lao government is accelerating high-quality and sustainable economic growth, with the aim of building an independent and self-reliant economy.
The Central Bank of Laos recently approved a seven-day cut in the benchmark interest rate from 8.5 percent to 8 percent, a measure that is expected to help keep inflation at around 5 percent.