In April 2025, Libya’s Full Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB) increased 0.7% to LYD 909.44, with the eastern region now the most expensive. Notable price hikes in various towns reflect ongoing inflation and trade issues. Conversely, the west saw a decrease in MEB, while the southern region’s prices remained stable. Overall, the national Food MEB rose by 0.5% and the Non-Food MEB by 2.1%.
In April 2025, the World Food Programme’s monitoring indicated a slight increase in Libya’s national Full Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB), which rose by 0.7 percent, reaching LYD 909.44. This uptick appears to be part of an ongoing trend of inflation driven by rising food and non-food prices across various regions.
The eastern region experienced the most considerable monthly increase, now standing as the most expensive area in Libya, with a Full MEB that climbed by 4.2 percent to LYD 925.43. Noteworthy spikes were reported in Ajdabiya, where prices surged by 11.5 percent to LYD 915.88, Al Kufra with a 6.7 percent boost to LYD 1,130.91, and Benghazi, where the MEB rose 4.4 percent to LYD 992.20. Experts attribute these increases partly to trade disruptions and an ongoing influx of Sudanese refugees to Al Kufra, which is straining local resources.
Meanwhile, Western Libya saw a decrease of 1.1 percent in its Full MEB, dropping down to LYD 858.26. This decline was largely driven by significant price reductions in Zwara, where costs fell by 11.2 percent to LYD 938.38, a result of a temporary fix to cross-border trade issues with Tunisia.
In the southern region, the MEB remained mostly stable, with a minor drop of 0.1 percent to LYD 954.36. Remarkably, the eastern region overtook the south as the most expensive area, despite Murzuq still reporting high prices at LYD 1,069.07 – even after a small monthly decline of 0.8 percent.
Additionally, the national Food MEB saw a slight rise of 0.5 percent, now at LYD 793.71, while the Non-Food MEB increased by 2.1 percent to LYD 115.73. This variability is still being felt across essential items like fuel and utilities, which have been significantly affected by a 13.3 percent devaluation of the Libyan dinar enforced by the Central Bank of Libya (CBL).
The WFP’s April 2025 market price monitoring reveals a slight increase in Libya’s Full Minimum Expenditure Basket, mainly driven by rising costs in the east while other regions saw varied trends. The eastern part has become the most expensive, influenced by refugee influx and trade disruptions, whereas Western Libya reported a decrease due to resolved trade issues. The continued challenges with currency devaluation remain pivotal in influencing overall market conditions for food and non-food items.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
