The situation regarding the cost of living and purchasing power in Aruba is alarming, with both the Central Bank of Aruba (BCA) and the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) sounding the alarm about the crisis existing at this moment. Everywhere in Aruba, there is a price shock. Over the past year, prices of products across all sectors have experienced a drastic increase. While the current government promised the people that it would lower the cost of living, refill the refrigerators, and improve purchasing power, today’s reality is completely different.
Member of Parliament Dangui Oduber emphasizes that this data confirms the severe crisis situation our island is living through, where even the products in the basic basket have seen an increase, and not even this escapes the hands of this government!
The Basic Basket Does Not Escape Either The analytical view of our Consumer Basket aligns with the reality we feel every day in our wallets over the past year:
More than half (55.4%) of all products experienced a price increase, which is the main reason why our cost of living has risen so much.
One-third (32.6%) of the products became cheaper, but this was not enough to hold back the general price increase.
The remainder (12%) of the products stayed at the same price.
At the end of the day, the price of both our goods and the services we use registered an increase of just over 2%. These figures ratify the reality we live in: rising prices outweigh those that are falling.
BCA Survey Confirms Pessimism in the Local Economy Persistent inflation and the increase in daily expenses are affecting the purchasing power of Aruban households, which has weakened confidence in our economy and pushed the well-being of families further back compared to six months ago.
According to the results of the most recent Consumer Confidence Survey by the Central Bank of Aruba (BCA), the Consumer Confidence Index decreased by 3.7 points, dropping to 92.7. This data shows that consumers remain pessimistic about the current economic situation and expectations for the near future. According to the BCA, both the perception of the current economic situation and expectations for the coming months registered a deterioration during the evaluated period.
One of the main concerns emerging from the survey is the expectation that prices will continue to rise; no less than 96% of the consumers consulted expect the cost of living to be higher in the next six months.
Increase in the Subsistence Minimum (Bestaansminimum) In the last twelve (12) months, the subsistence minimum for a household consisting of two (2) adults and two (2) children (ages 0-14) registered an increase of Afl. 131, from Afl. 5,510 in May 2025 to Afl. 5,641 in May 2026. This increase was mainly driven by rises in the sectors of “Food and non-alcoholic beverages” (Afl. 80) and “Transport” (Afl. 27).
While the public waits desperately for relief, ministers are partying, traveling, and continuing to waste taxpayers’ money; Minister Gerlien Croes alone traveled no less than 15 times in 14 months of work.
Today, after these 14 months, there is nowhere left to hide from these price shocks in Aruba. The situation did not get better as promised; on the contrary, the situation has become much worse.
While inflation weakens our families, the indifference of the government lashes the people!