Inflation down on Bonaire and Saba, up on St Eustatius
Prices on Saba in the fourth quarter were up by 2.9 percent, year on year. That compares to an inflation rate of 3.5 percent in the third quarter. Inflation on St Eustatius was 2.2 percent in Q4. That compares with 1.9 percent in Q3.
The publication of these figures for the fourth quarter means that the annual figures for 2025 are now also known. On Bonaire, the average price level in 2025 was 4.3 percent higher than it was in 2024. On Saba, prices were 3.8 percent higher than they were in 2024, and on St Eustatius they were 1.8 percent higher. On Bonaire and Saba, this was mainly related to subsidies for water and energy bills that were discontinued at the beginning of 2025 but reinstated in the third quarter. This also occurred on St Eustati-us, but there the effect was less visible. In addition, prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages rose clearly on all three islands. Price rises for clothing and footwear also contributed to the general increase in prices, especially on Saba and St Eustatius. Finally, on Saba, prices in the accommodation and food services sector also went up.
| Groep x-as label | X-as label | Bonaire (% year-on-year change in CPI*) | St Eustatius (% year-on-year change in CPI*) | Saba (% year-on-year change in CPI*) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Q1 | -0.6 | -1.1 | 1.5 |
| 2015 | Q2 | -0.9 | -1.7 | 0.9 |
| 2015 | Q3 | -0.9 | -0.5 | -0.4 |
| 2015 | Q4 | -1.2 | -0.7 | -0.1 |
| 2016 | Q1 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| 2016 | Q2 | 0.4 | -0.1 | 0.0 |
| 2016 | Q3 | 0.6 | -0.9 | 0.2 |
| 2016 | Q4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | -0.3 |
| 2017 | Q1 | 0.1 | 1.1 | -1.0 |
| 2017 | Q2 | 0.4 | 2.6 | -1.0 |
| 2017 | Q3 | 0.6 | 2.1 | -1.3 |
| 2017 | Q4 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 2.5 |
| 2018 | Q1 | 3.9 | 2.0 | 2.9 |
| 2018 | Q2 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 3.2 |
| 2018 | Q3 | 3.5 | 1.1 | 4.4 |
| 2018 | Q4 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 0.0 |
| 2019 | Q1 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 |
| 2019 | Q2 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| 2019 | Q3 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| 2019 | Q4 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 |
| 2020 | Q1 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 |
| 2020 | Q2 | -1.0 | -0.8 | -0.8 |
| 2020 | Q3 | -4.8 | -3.3 | -1.6 |
| 2020 | Q4 | -5.2 | -3.2 | -0.8 |
| 2021 | Q1 | -3.2 | -4.1 | -1.3 |
| 2021 | Q2 | 0.3 | -1.2 | 1.0 |
| 2021 | Q3 | 4.3 | 2.4 | 3.2 |
| 2021 | Q4 | 5.7 | 2.7 | 4.0 |
| 2022 | Q1 | 9.2 | 4.9 | 6.7 |
| 2022 | Q2 | 9.4 | 7.7 | 8.2 |
| 2022 | Q3 | 12.2 | 9.0 | 9.7 |
| 2022 | Q4 | 8.1 | 9.1 | 9.7 |
| 2023 | Q1 | 4.5 | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| 2023 | Q2 | 4.6 | 3.3 | 5.2 |
| 2023 | Q3 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 2.8 |
| 2023 | Q4 | 4.1 | -1.0 | 1.2 |
| 2024 | Q1 | 3.4 | -0.4 | 1.9 |
| 2024 | Q2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| 2024 | Q3 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 1.9 |
| 2024 | Q4 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 3.3 |
| 2025 | Q1 | 5.9 | 2.2 | 4.8 |
| 2025 | Q2 | 5.3 | 1.1 | 4.2 |
| 2025 | Q3 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 3.5 |
| 2025 | Q4 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 2.9 |
| * consumer price index | ||||
Prices on Bonaire 1 percent lower in Q4 than in Q3
Prices in Bonaire fell by 1.0 percent in Q4 2025, quarter-on-quarter (i.e. compared with Q3 2025). This fall was mainly due to prices for housing, water and energy, which fell by 3.8 percent, on average. Prices for water supply and electricity fell by 20.5 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively. This was because drinking water and energy subsidies – which were discontinued at the beginning of 2025 – were reintro-duced in the third quarter. This led to a price fall in the third quarter, which also worked its way into the fourth quarter. Transportation also became 0.7 percent cheaper in Q4, quarter on quarter. Prices for air travel fell by 3.2 percent, following a significant rise in Q3.
Prices on Saba 0.2 percent higher in Q4 than in Q3
On Saba, prices rose by 0.2 percent in Q4 2025 compared to Q3. Prices for food products and non-alcoholic beverages were up by 1.4 percent. For instance, the price of mineral water and spring water was up by 3.5 percent compared to Q3. Meat products also rose in price: beef was 5.9 percent more expensive than it was in Q3.
The price of clothing and footwear was down by 3.1 percent in Q4. This decrease was particularly evi-dent for women's clothing, but also to some extent in clothes for babies and children. Home mainte-nance and repair products were also down in price by 4.0 percent. Eggs were slightly cheaper, as well as prices in the accommodation and food services sector.
Prices on St Eustatius up by 0.5 percent in Q4 compared to Q3
On St Eustatius, too, consumer prices were up in Q4 2025: by 0.5 percent compared to Q3. Prices for food products and non-alcoholic beverages were up by 2.8 percent. For example, the average price of poultry meat was up by 9.8 percent. Prices for fresh fish and frozen fish were up by 8.3 percent. In addition, po-tatoes and various sweets such as chocolate and candy also rose in price.
Electricity became cheaper compared to Q3. As on Bonaire, this was due to the reintroduction of subsi-dies for drinking water and energy, which had been discontinued earlier that year. Prices for clothing and footwear were down by 3.1 percent in Q4. This decrease was particularly evident for women's clothing, but also to some extent in clothes for babies and children. Eggs also became slightly cheaper.
| Jaar | Kwartaal | Bonaire (2017 = 100) | St Eustatius (2017 = 100) | Saba (2017 = 100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Q1 | 98.8 | 97.6 | 100.1 |
| 2015 | Q2 | 98.9 | 97.7 | 100.6 |
| 2015 | Q3 | 99.1 | 99.2 | 100.0 |
| 2015 | Q4 | 98.8 | 98.4 | 100.1 |
| 2016 | Q1 | 99.4 | 98.0 | 100.4 |
| 2016 | Q2 | 99.3 | 97.6 | 100.6 |
| 2016 | Q3 | 99.7 | 98.3 | 100.2 |
| 2016 | Q4 | 99.3 | 98.7 | 99.8 |
| 2017 | Q1 | 99.5 | 99.0 | 99.4 |
| 2017 | Q2 | 99.8 | 100.1 | 99.6 |
| 2017 | Q3 | 100.4 | 100.4 | 98.9 |
| 2017 | Q4 | 100.4 | 100.5 | 102.1 |
| 2018 | Q1 | 103.3 | 101.0 | 102.3 |
| 2018 | Q2 | 102.8 | 101.4 | 102.8 |
| 2018 | Q3 | 103.9 | 101.5 | 103.3 |
| 2018 | Q4 | 103.8 | 101.6 | 102.2 |
| 2019 | Q1 | 104.0 | 101.8 | 102.9 |
| 2019 | Q2 | 103.9 | 101.8 | 103.2 |
| 2019 | Q3 | 105.1 | 102.2 | 103.6 |
| 2019 | Q4 | 106.1 | 102.6 | 103.0 |
| 2020 | Q1 | 105.0 | 103.0 | 103.3 |
| 2020 | Q2 | 102.9 | 100.9 | 102.4 |
| 2020 | Q3 | 100.1 | 98.8 | 101.9 |
| 2020 | Q4 | 100.6 | 99.3 | 102.2 |
| 2021 | Q1 | 101.6 | 98.7 | 102.0 |
| 2021 | Q2 | 103.3 | 99.6 | 103.5 |
| 2021 | Q3 | 104.4 | 101.2 | 105.2 |
| 2021 | Q4 | 106.3 | 102.0 | 106.2 |
| 2022 | Q1 | 111.0 | 103.6 | 108.8 |
| 2022 | Q2 | 112.9 | 107.3 | 111.9 |
| 2022 | Q3 | 117.2 | 110.3 | 115.5 |
| 2022 | Q4 | 115.0 | 111.3 | 116.5 |
| 2023 | Q1 | 116.0 | 111.8 | 116.5 |
| 2023 | Q2 | 118.2 | 110.9 | 117.7 |
| 2023 | Q3 | 119.4 | 110.3 | 118.7 |
| 2023 | Q4 | 119.7 | 110.2 | 117.9 |
| 2024 | Q1 | 119.9 | 111.4 | 118.7 |
| 2024 | Q2 | 121.2 | 113.6 | 120.1 |
| 2024 | Q3 | 122.5 | 113.8 | 120.9 |
| 2024 | Q4 | 121.8 | 114.0 | 121.8 |
| 2025 | Q1 | 127.0 | 113.8 | 124.3 |
| 2025 | Q2 | 127.6 | 114.8 | 125.2 |
| 2025 | Q3 | 126.6 | 116.0 | 125.1 |
| 2025 | Q4 | 125.3 | 116.5 | 125.3 |
Provisional figures
The figures for Q4 2025 and the annual figures for 2025 are provisional, and will become definitive upon publication of the figures for Q1 2026.
Papiamentu
A Papiamentu translation of this news release can be obtained from the office of Statistics Netherlands on Bonaire by sending a request by email to: caribischnederland@cbs.nl.