ACCRA, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Ghana's consumer inflation rate rose to 3.7 percent year on year in May from 3.4 percent in April, the Ghana Statistical Service said Wednesday.

The increase marked the second uptick in inflation in the past 16 months, following a prolonged downward trend since December 2024, when inflation stood at 23.8 percent.

Government Statistician Alhassan Iddrisu said at the monthly data release in Accra, the country's capital, that the rise in headline inflation was mainly driven by higher food prices.

Food inflation accelerated to 3.3 percent year on year in May from 2.2 percent in April, while non-food inflation eased slightly to 4.1 percent from 4.2 percent over the same period, Iddrisu said.

According to him, inflation for locally produced goods rose to 5.0 percent in May from 4.7 percent in April, while inflation for imported items increased to 0.9 percent from 0.5 percent.

Speaking at a Monetary Policy Committee press conference in May, Bank of Ghana Governor Johnson Asiama said inflation is expected to rise gradually toward the medium-term target range of 6 to 10 percent by the end of 2026, driven largely by exchange rate-related base effects, food supply conditions, and transport fares. ■