Travel and clothing costs rise in Bahrain from January to May 2025, according to iGA data

TDT | Manama

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Prices of everyday goods in Bahrain have dropped in recent months, while spending on travel and luxury items has crept up, according to government data covering the period from January to May 2025.

The figures, released by the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA), show a sharp fall in the cost of seafood, which dropped by 11.2 per cent. This was the steepest fall across all categories.

Vegetables and legumes were down by 2.1 per cent.

Food prices as a whole declined by an average of 1.6 per cent, while the broader category of food and non-alcoholic drink slipped by 1.4 per cent.

Pressure

These shifts are easing pressure on household budgets at a time when wages remain largely unchanged and expenses elsewhere continue to climb.

Luxury items and services, however, are pulling in the other direction. Shoe prices climbed by 2.7 per cent.

Packaged holidays rose by 2.3 per cent, a change that suggests renewed appetite for travel following several lean years.

The cost of personal luggage increased by 2.2 per cent. Clothing prices edged up by 0.98 per cent.

On the whole, clothing and footwear prices together saw an annual rise of 1.2 per cent.

Stable

Other categories have remained largely stable. Health services showed little movement. Transport prices saw some wobble, mostly tied to fuel costs and regional developments.

Telecommunications recorded slight drops in the price of certain devices and equipment, owing to market rivalry and ongoing discount plans.

School fees and related costs in the education sector showed no clear sign of major change.

Trends As these trends play out, there are growing calls for sharper oversight of the markets.

Some are urging wider use of technology to track prices and a firmer hand when dealing with practices that interfere with people’s access to everyday goods.

The aim is to keep living costs in check and ensure shelves remain within reach.