Mauritania Inflation Outlook Jumps to 8%
New IMF data show Mauritania’s inflation jumping to 8% this year as growth slows to 4.4%, one week after the first US business mission to the country. The post Mauritania Inflation Outlook Jumps to 8% appeared first on The Rio Times .
Mauritania's consumer prices are projected to increase by 8.0% on average this year, a significant rise from 1.6% in 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund's latest World Economic Outlook data. The IMF also lowered its growth forecast for 2026, from 4.7% to 4.4%. The shift in inflation and growth figures matters for American businesses, as Mauritania is an important partner for Kosmos Energy, a US company involved in the country's offshore gas project.
The new data also come a week after the US Embassy in Nouakchott welcomed the first US business mission to Mauritania, emphasizing the importance of strengthening economic ties. Inflation remains the most notable change in the new projections, with prices expected to rise by 9.0% in December 2026 compared to the previous year. The IMF attributes the higher inflation rates to global energy and food price increases, and warns that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could persist and potentially worsen.
The IMF's projections for Mauritania's real growth rate for 2026 and 2027 stand at 4.4%, an increase from 3.6% in 2025, and are expected to reach 5.8% in 2028. The country's economy is valued at approximately $14.3 billion in 2026, with public debt decreasing to 38.3% of output from 40.4% in 2025. The current account deficit is projected to grow to 7.8% of output from 5.8%.
The IMF's new 42-month loan program, valued at $95.8 million, was approved in June, as was the closure of a previous climate resilience facility.
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