Minister for Finance Esrom Immanuel told Parliament on Friday that the Government’s cost-of-living measures are driven by real data, continuous monitoring, and a commitment to protecting vulnerable households across Fiji.
Immanuel said the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) remains one of the Government’s most important tools in understanding the pressures families face.
“This is the evidence that helps us see which families are under the most pressure and where support is needed — whether in food, transport, housing or basic services,” he said.
“It is through this understanding that Government has been able to introduce targeted interventions such as zero-rating essential food items and strengthening social protection for vulnerable groups. These are practical measures that have helped ease pressures on household budgets.”
The Minister stressed that although the HIES is conducted every five years, the assessment of living costs never stops.
“We track living costs continuously through monthly CPI updates, regular market price inspections by the FCCC, wages and employment data, and insights from social support groups like the Fiji Council of Social Services,” he said.
“Together, these help us maintain a clear and up-to-date picture of the pressures facing our people.”
Immanuel also highlighted that Fiji’s Consumer Price Index has now been rebased to 2019, ensuring inflation readings reflect modern household spending patterns.
“Inflation in the last nine months has been in the negative territory and stood at -3.4 percent in October 2025.”
Immanuel said the 2025–2026 National Budget allocates around $4.1 million to the Fiji Bureau of Statistics for the next HIES cycle.
“This will provide us with the most recent data on household income and expenditures, further strengthening our understanding and guiding future policy decisions.”
He reaffirmed the Government’s central goal:
“Our goal is simple — to ensure every decision we make is grounded in solid evidence and aimed at improving the daily lives of all Fijians.”
Immanuel concluded by stressing that the Government remains focused on easing cost-of-living pressures and ensuring that no household is left behind.
“This Government remains committed to easing the cost-of-living pressures, protecting vulnerable families, and building an economy where every household, rural or urban, has the opportunity to live with dignity and security.”
