(Ecofin Agency) - • WAEMU’s inflation dropped from 2.2% in March to 1.5% in April 2025
• BCEAO attributes the decline to falling food, housing, and transport prices
• Mali posts highest inflation; BCEAO cuts policy rate to 3.25%

The West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) kept its inflation within the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)'s target range of 1–3%. In March 2025, the rate stood at 2.2%, up slightly from 2.1% in February.

In April 2025, the inflation rate fell to 1.5%, down from 2.2% the previous month, according to the BCEAO’s monthly statistical bulletin. The bank attributed the drop to falling prices in the food, housing, and transport sectors.

Country-level data showed rising inflation in Benin and Côte d’Ivoire, both reaching 0.8%. Inflation declined in Burkina Faso (1.8%), Guinea-Bissau (3.8%), Niger (0.5%), Togo (0.8%), and Mali (8.2%). Mali recorded the highest inflation in the zone, while Senegal held steady at 0.2%.

The report confirmed that WAEMU inflation has remained within the BCEAO’s target for six consecutive months. For 2025, the central bank projects average inflation of 2.2%, down from 2.6% at the end of December 2024. The outlook reflects economic stability, with a near-zero current account deficit and improved external position.

At its June 2, 2025 meeting, the BCEAO’s Monetary Policy Committee lowered the main policy rate from 3.50% to 3.25%, citing a more stable macroeconomic context and the recent inflation slowdown.