The latest data from the Statistical Centre of Iran (SCI) shows the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the period 22 May–21 June 2026 was 88.6% higher than in the corresponding period a year earlier. In practical terms, a household that spent 100 monetary units on the same basket of goods and services a year ago would now need to spend approximately 189 monetary units to purchase that basket.
Economists attribute the sharp increase in prices to a combination of long-standing structural challenges and more recent pressures. These include weak economic management, persistent fiscal and monetary imbalances, the continued impact of international sanctions, subdued growth prospects, heightened uncertainty in the business environment and widening fiscal deficits. More recently, military conflict and heightened regional tensions have placed further strain on Iran’s economy by increasing investment risks, disrupting economic activity and adding pressure on public finances.
Alongside the figures published by the Statistical Centre of Iran (SCI), the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) has reported different inflation estimates. According to the CBI, year-on-year inflation reached 83.1% at the end of the period 22 May–21 June 2026, while the annual inflation rate stood at 57.7%.
These estimates differ from those published by the SCI, which reported an annual inflation rate of 62.0% and a year-on-year inflation rate of 88.6% for the same period.
The gap between the two sets of estimates amounts to 4.3 percentage points for annual inflation and 5.5 percentage points for year-on-year inflation. Such discrepancies are not unusual in Iran and have recurred over recent years.
The differences largely reflect variations in methodology, including the composition of household consumption baskets, the weighting assigned to individual goods and services, and data collection and sampling techniques. Although both institutions seek to measure changes in the general price level, methodological differences can lead to materially different inflation estimates.
Despite these statistical differences, both sets of figures point to the same underlying trend: Iran is experiencing one of its most severe episodes of inflation in decades. Persistently rapid price growth has become a structural feature of the economy rather than a temporary shock.
Recent data indicate that inflationary pressures have continued to intensify rather than ease. Year-on-year inflation increased from 52.6% in December 2025 to approximately 68% in February 2026, before rising further to 88.6% for the period 22 May–21 June 2026.
This trajectory suggests that inflationary pressures have become increasingly entrenched, reflecting deeper structural imbalances rather than a temporary or purely monetary phenomenon.
International forecasts also point to a challenging outlook. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that Iran’s annual inflation rate will average around 68.9% in 2026, placing the country among the highest-inflation economies in the world. At the same time, the IMF forecasts a contraction in real GDP of around 6.1%, indicating continued pressure on economic activity.
Short-term price dynamics are also noteworthy. The Consumer Price Index increased by 5.9% over a single month, from 22 April–21 May 2026 to 22 May–21 June 2026 (the periods corresponding to the Iranian months of Ordibehesht and Khordad, respectively).
A monthly increase of this magnitude illustrates the speed at which prices are rising, making it increasingly difficult for households to maintain purchasing power and plan their finances.
Iran’s inflation surge – one of the most severe experienced by the country since the Second World War – has been closely associated with the sharp depreciation of the rial. Inflation has eroded the currency’s purchasing power, while successive declines in the rial have, in turn, fuelled further inflation by increasing the cost of imports and raising inflation expectations.
At the beginning of the year, the US dollar traded at around 1.35 million rials on Tehran’s open market. Following the start of US and Israeli air strikes against Iran on 28 February, the exchange rate rose to approximately 1.72 million rials per US dollar.
During the conflict, the exchange rate temporarily strengthened to around 1.46 million rials per US dollar as economic and commercial activity slowed, reducing demand for foreign currency. However, after Donald Trump threatened further US air strikes against critical Iranian infrastructure on 7 April, the rial came under renewed pressure, with the exchange rate weakening to around 1.63 million rials per US dollar.
Following the announcement of a ceasefire, the exchange rate recovered to approximately 1.525 million rials per US dollar. However, as economic activity resumed and Iranian officials estimated war-related damage at around US$300 billion, the rial weakened sharply again, with the exchange rate reaching a record 1.9 million rials per US dollar.
The subsequent signing of a memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington led to a temporary appreciation of the rial, bringing the exchange rate back to around 1.53 million rials per US dollar. Renewed tensions between Iran and the United States, however, pushed the exchange rate higher once again, approaching 1.7 million rials per US dollar.
These developments illustrate the extent to which exchange-rate movements have become a key transmission channel for inflation in Iran. Fluctuations in the rial affect not only the domestic cost of imported goods and production inputs but also the inflation expectations of households and businesses, reinforcing upward pressure on prices.
Inflation has not affected all segments of society equally. Official data show that lower-income households have experienced a greater erosion of purchasing power than higher-income groups.
Year-on-year inflation reached 108.1% in rural areas, compared with 85.2% in urban areas. This disparity is particularly significant because lower-income households typically spend a larger share of their income on essential goods and services, especially food, leaving them more exposed to rising prices.
From a distributional perspective, inflation acts as an implicit tax, disproportionately reducing the real incomes of households with the least capacity to save, invest or protect themselves against rising prices.
The steepest price increases have been recorded in categories most closely associated with everyday household spending. Official statistics indicate that food prices have more than doubled compared with the same period a year earlier.
Year-on-year inflation reached 173.8% for tobacco, around 178% for meat, poultry and related products, approximately 152% for milk, cheese and eggs, and around 139% for bread and cereals.
Non-food categories have also recorded substantial price increases. Prices for furniture and household equipment rose by more than 111%, while transport costs increased by over 103%.
These figures suggest that the inflationary shock extends well beyond food prices. Alongside the rising cost of everyday essentials, households are also facing substantially higher costs for household goods and transport, further eroding purchasing power and placing increasing pressure on household budgets.
One of the clearest consequences of sustained inflation is the widening gap between wages and the cost of meeting basic living expenses.
According to the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA), the official minimum monthly wage for the current year was set at 166.255 million rials (approximately €85), while representatives at a meeting of the Supreme Labour Council on 13 March 2026 estimated that a minimum household living basket would cost around 450 million rials (approximately €225) per month.
On this basis, the official minimum wage covers only around 37% of the estimated cost of a basic living basket, leaving a shortfall of approximately 63%.
The figures illustrate how rapid inflation has eroded real wages. Although nominal wages have increased over time, they have failed to keep pace with the rising cost of essential goods and services, placing increasing pressure on household living standards.
More broadly, Iran’s inflation challenge extends beyond rising prices alone. A combination of persistent inflation, currency depreciation and weakening purchasing power has created a self-reinforcing cycle that continues to undermine household finances and economic stability.
A MASSIVE indoor water resort the size of nine football pitches is set to open – and a similar one is coming to the UK.
Therme Singapore has confirmed that it will be opening in 2030, with works set to start.
The 720,000sqft attraction will be set across seven levels, with a range of activities based around water and wellness.
Set to cost S$1billion (£584million), inside will be 20 swmming pools, 18 waterslides and 70 treatment rooms for health and wellness.
There will be three zones – Play, Relax and Restore.
Play will be home to the water slides, as well as kids pools and a wave pool while Relax will have mineral and hydrotherapy pools.
Restore will be the wellness area, with everything from steam rooms and saunas to cold punges and massage rooms.
Not only will there be hundreds of thousands of plants inside, but it will remain at around 30C all year round.
Inside will also be a huge dining area with restaurants and food spaces.
When it opens, it hopes to eventually welcome up to two million visitors.
But if Singapore is a bit too far for you, you can get excited by these images as a similar one is opening in the UK.
Therme Manchester is also opening in 2030, and claims it will be the biggest paid for attraction in the UK with three million tourists a year.
The £500million indoor water resort will be across 28 aces, with similar Play, Restore and Relax zones like the one in Singapore.
This will include a indoor beach, year-round 33C temperatures as well as pools and slides.
David Russell, CEO of Therme UK said: “There won’t be anywhere in this country that has the facilities we have.”
Other sides include Therme Bucharest in Romania and Therme Erdin in Germany.
AS RAIN starts pouring in the UK and temperatures dip, you might be craving some warmth and somewhere to take the family that feels like a holiday.
But you don’t need to jet off abroad to escape the British weather.
Across the country, high-tech, indoor aqua parks are offering an oasis away from the rain – with tropical 30C climates, record-breaking wave pools and adrenaline-pumping speed slides.
From waterparks with their own VIP hot tubs and thermal spas for adults, to multi-lane racing chutes for kids, these are the ultimate indoor waterparks that guarantee a fun day out while the British weather does its worst.
Alpamare describes itself as “unlike any waterpark you’ve seen before”, and they might just be right.
This alpine-themed water world has four massive waterslides named after ski runs: the Cresta Run, Olympic Run, Black Run and Snowstorm.
Race down these thrilling water rides through twists, turns and even stops to spin around giant funnel bowls.
There’s also a massive wave pool which erupts with waves every 30 minutes. Or for something more chilled, there’s a huge main indoor pool and even a heated outdoor infinity pool for when the weather picks up.
The relaxation doesn’t stop there – this waterpark has its own spa with a ‘Sauna World’, hammam and health bar.
Inside the Sauna World you’ll find a panoramic Finnish sauna, LED ice showers, a reflexology foot bath and even a unique ‘Hay Bath’.
Here you can lay back on a lounger in a wooden relaxation area packed with fresh hay harvested from the fields of North Yorkshire – a unique form of aromatherapy.
Tickets start at £10 per adult, £7.50 per child and £2.50 per toddler. Book ahead online for the best rates.
One of England’s biggest indoor water worlds, Coral Reef Waterworld is ideal for a family rainy day out with plenty of fun including a giant pirate ship and erupting water volcano.
Indoors, expect tropical temperatures at 30C and a rapid river, bubble pool and children’s splash zone.
The pirate-themed splash area houses a pirate ship called The Coralina, surrounded by water cannons and interactive water features for kids of all ages.
There are also five high-tech waterslides, including The Cannon, which launches riders down a 67 metre-long chute like a cannonball.
Another popular ride is Poseidon’s Peril, where two people are attached to an inflatable raft as it rotates and swirls through colour-changing lights.
Grown-ups can head to the Coral Spa to unwind.
It has heated loungers, three saunas and even a Japanese steam room.
Adult tickets cost £20.55 and children’s cost £14.55. Book tickets ahead online.
Home to some of the UK’s wildest waterslides, Splashdown Waterpark in Poole is a total paradise for adrenaline junkies.
This action-packed waterpark boasts 13 indoor and outdoor flumes that operate whatever the weather.
Daredevils can conquer The Screamer, which plummets you through a near-vertical 40-meter drop in under five seconds, or dive into the pitch-black Black Thunder.
If you want a party with your plunge, the Infinity waterslide plays funky tunes alongside a flashing laser show as you whirl around a giant bowl.
Little ones aren’t left out either, with the interactive water cannons at Buccaneer Splash keeping younger kids safely entertained.
Admission for three hours costs £23 per person, £9 for 1-4-year-olds and £6 for children under 1.
Child tickets include entry for a companion adult.
Make sure to book tickets online in advance.
Inside the Barnsley Metrodome, Calypso Cove is the North’s ultimate indoor waterpark.
It’s designed to look like a tropical island paradise, making it a huge hit for family days out when the British weather misbehaves.
There are some high-energy water rides here to enjoy, like Terror Torrent, one of the UK’s fastest indoor water flumes.
This thrilling slide hurls riders through tight twists and turns before dropping them out into the pool.
There’s also The Eruption, a volcano-themed ride that spins you around a large bowl before dropping you out at the bottom.
Families with younger kids can climb onto the decks of the large pirate ship play area, while parents with babies and toddlers can enjoy the shallow waters and gentle water fountains of Barnacle Bay.
For a bite to eat, head to The Hideout poolside cafe. Here you can break up your swimming session by walking straight out of the water to grab burgers, chips, and drinks in your swimwear before heading straight back to the slides.
Adult tickets cost £16, under 10s tickets cost £13 and under 3s tickets cost £4. All tickets must be booked in advance online.
The Wave in Coventry is a giant indoor waterpark home to the largest wave pool in the UK.
Jump into the huge pool where the wave machine churns more than 20 million litres of water per day, or drift along in the lazy river.
There are six waterslides for thrill-seekers to brave, including The Riptide, a half-pipe slide that blasts riders in a rubber ring down a near-90-degree drop.
There is also The Cyclone, which spins swimmers around a giant open bowl before dropping you through the middle.
For younger children, The Reef is a vibrant splash pad with its own miniature slides and water fountains safely tucked away from the big flumes.
Meanwhile, grown-ups looking for some me-time can head to the Mana Spa.
There you can swim in a quieter spa pool, unwind in the aromatherapy room and relax in the sauna or steam room.
Tickets cost £15 per adult, £13 for children 11 and under and under ones go free.
Sandcastle Waterpark is the UK’s largest indoor waterpark, sitting on the South Promenade opposite popular theme park Pleasure Beach.
This water world packs 18 slides and attractions into a tropical 29C environment, making it the ultimate rainy day saviour.
Take your pick from white-knuckle rides like The Master Blaster, the UK’s longest water rollercoaster, or Montazooma, a head-spinning slide of twists and turns.
There’s also Aztec Falls, a water ride that plunges you into darkness before spinning you around a giant bowl.
The Caribbean Storm Treehouse is a hit with kids, featuring a giant climbing frame topped with a huge coconut that unleashes 600 gallons of water on swimmers below.
Little ones can also challenge each other on the multi-lane Treetops Water Chutes or explore the interactive HMS Thunder Splash pirate ship.
When you need a break from the noise, the adult-only Sea Breeze Spa offers a relaxing escape.
A £7 upgrade secures a three-hour session to unwind across the saunas, steam rooms, foot baths, and aromatherapy lounge.
And if you really want to splash out, the park offers premium Tiki Cabanas for adults.
Priced at £60pp, this VIP package bundles full-day waterpark entry and a free meal with your own private area with a hot tub, flatscreen TV and a fridge stocked with cold drinks.
Tickets start from £25.50 for ages 8+ and £16.50 for kids aged 3-7, with under 3s going free. Make sure to book online in advance, as same-day purchases here can cost you extra.
WITH two beaches, a canal and a castle, the town of Bude has a lot going on.
And as a one-time local, I’ve got the lowdown on all the best things to see and do in this seaside gem on Cornwall’s north coast.
The Summerleaze and Crooklets beaches have lifeguards between May and late September.
Both are ideal for surfing and bodyboarding and, if the sea is having a rare flat day, the swimmers and paddleboarders get their turn.
Book a lesson with the patient and knowledgeable instructors at Big Blue Surf School and you’ll be on your feet riding those waves before you know it.
When the tide is low, you can wander along the shore from Crooklets to Sandymouth.
It’s two miles of gloriousness, taking about an hour. Just check the tide times first.
Bude Sea Pool is a large, semi-natural tidal pool between the two beaches. It’s free and an ideal place to swim safely.
Go early morning or later in the evening for the quietest times.
If you want to upgrade your trip, hire a beach hut from the local council.
My favourite place in Bude is the wood-fired Ocean Soul Sauna overlooking Crooklets Beach.
During the summer months, you can book a sauna/yoga combo.
Bude has dramatic, fiery sunsets and watching the sun go down while enjoying a barbecue on the beach makes for a memorable evening.
If hiking is your thing, the South West Coast Path has incredible scenery.
Unlike many High Streets up and down the country, Bude’s is thriving.
It’s the perfect mix of independent shops and eateries, combined with the larger chains we know and love.
Buffy’s is my go-to for breakfast, which is under a tenner for quality food and a coffee.
Newly-opened Coffee Bay is a favourite stop for an afternoon pick-me-up, with the most decadent cakes and cookies in town.
When it comes to dinner, Elements is my favourite for a family meal.
The menu of pizza, pasta, salads and specials is simple but perfectly cooked and presented.
Even on busy evenings, the service is fast and the delicious cocktails are guaranteed to go down well.
My favourite summer tipple is Cornish Country Garden — Bude gin, vodka and elderflower cordial — enjoyed on their seafront terrace.
Fans of local ale should visit The Barrel At Bude.
The award-winning micropub doesn’t have wifi, fruit machines or a jukebox, meaning, shock horror, you have to talk to each other.
My favourite shop in Bude is Spencer Thorn, which has a lovely combo of books and gifts.
When the weather is good, it’s easy to have a great day without shelling out a fortune, too.
Bude Castle, built on shifting sand dunes in 1830, is free to enter, with an exhibition covering prehistory to the present day.
Here, you can learn about the unique geology of the coastline, which is so unusual it is known as Bude formation.
There’s also information on the town’s maritime links and the history behind the Bude Canal.
The circus comes to the outskirts of town each August, and during the summer holidays there are weekly, free circus-skills workshops on the castle’s green, where you can try juggling and riding a unicycle.
For the energetic, the 360ft inflatable Monster Slip And Slide water slide on the outskirts of Bude should feature on your holiday to-do list.
For somewhere to stay, you can’t beat the Premier Inn, with its central location and free parking.
Whether you fancy an active holiday of surfing, walking and swimming or prefer to relax with great food and drink, Bude hits the spot.
STAYING THERE: Rooms at the Premier Inn Bude from £35 per night out of season and around £154 per night in summer.
See premierinn.com.
MORE INFO: See visitbude.info.
A BELOVED lido, boasting elephant slides and splash pads, is set to reopen this Bank Holiday weekend.
This beloved outdoor pool is the last riverside tidal lido in Britain.
The Strand Lido Pool in Gillingham, Medway, will welcome back visitors this Saturday.
Listed as the UK’s only riverside salt water pool, this Kent-based lido uses cleaned river water that is safe for public swimming.
Opened back in 1896, Medway’s only lido has been inviting families to swim for over 130 years.
This Victorian-era lido includes a host of swimming facilities for all ages, including an outdoor leisure pool and toddler paddling pool.
Children will love the elephant slides into the paddling pool, and cruising along the 300-metre lazy river.
For more advanced swimmers, there is also a central swimming zone, fitted with six 25-metre lengths to get some exercise this summer.
In 2025, The Strand introduced a free-to-use splash pad designed for children aged three to 11.
The splash pad features 30 sensor-activated waterjets in a beach-themed play area, opening at the same time as the lido with no booking required.
Strand visitors can also enjoy refreshments from the cafe, a mini train ride, crazy golf, tennis, a children’s play area and more.
Around the lido, visitors can buy pool inflatables, enjoy a break at the pool-side cafe, and lounge on the seating and sunbeds provided.
To enjoy all this summer fun, entry to The Strand Lido costs £8.15 for adults, and £5.35 for children, with under threes going free.
The pool will be operating on weekends from May 23 with two bookable sessions between 10.30am to 1.30pm, and 2.30pm to 5.30pm.
It will then be open for seven days a week during the school summer holidays – starting from Tuesday, July 21.
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Wall Street’s major market averages slip on Thursday following the previous session’s rally, as investors turn their focus toward any new developments surrounding a potential Middle East peace agreement.
The blue chip Dow (DJI) was -0.3%, the benchmark S&P 500 (
A MUCH-LOVED lido nestled in the UK countryside is reopening this weekend.
The Art Deco attraction, which features a “lagoon” pool and slides, first opened in 1935 as part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations for King George V.
At the height of summer, Ilkley Lido, which was threatened with closure in 2024, attracts up to 5,000 people a day and is now Grade II listed.
Inside is a large swimming pool, with a shallow end for kids as well as a slide. It is surrounded by a grassy area and has views across Ilkley Moor.
An Art Deco cafe remains unchanged at the site, which also includes changing rooms, tennis courts and a picnic area.
It will reopen on Saturday, May 9, from 10am to 4pm.
From Monday to Friday it will be open from 7.30am to 8.30am and 2pm to 6pm, and open from 10am to 2pm every Sunday.
A full summer programme, with extended opening times, will come into effect on May 23.
Adult tickets cost £7.25 and £3.75 for children.
The lido has hosted the Ilkley Triathlon since the early 1990s – one of the longest running sprint events in the country.
There are, however, no plans as yet for open air events at the attraction this year.
As previously reported, the Ilkley Pool and Lido Community Group said the attraction runs at a £280,000 loss every year.
A POPULAR English lido is re-opening just in time for summer – and it’s had a total makeover.
The outdoor splash park featuring fun elephant slides and a lazy river will welcome back families later this month, following a refresh.
An opening date for The Strand Lido and Leisure Park in Gillingham has been confirmed.
The refurbished Kent lido, which has the UK’s only remaining riverside tidal saltwater pool, will begin bringing the summer fun from Saturday May 23.
It will first be open for weekends, before offering its facilities seven days a week in the school summer holidays.
Two pool sessions are set to run every day the lido is open. The first from 10.30am to 1.30pm and the second from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.
Entry to sessions must be booked online. While children under three go free, adult tickets are £8.15, with junior and senior tickets priced at £5.35.
The spruced up lido was revived last year, funded by contributions from housing developments to Medway Council.
The Strand, which first opened in 1896, now features a new splash pad for children aged three to 11.
There’s also a beach-themed play area with 30 sensor-activated water jets alongside the large outdoor pool, elephant-shaped water slides and a 300 metre lazy river.
Those who love a long swim can make use of the open-air pool’s six 25 metre lanes.
After a day of water play, families can relax with a refreshment at the Victorian lido’s cafe, enjoy a hit on the refurbished tennis courts or take on a round of mini golf.
There’s even a miniature train for little ones to ride.
