INFLATION AND CONSUMER PRICE INDICES - JАNUARY 2026 - FINAL DATA AND FEBRUARY 2026
The monthly inflation rate was 0.4%, while the annual inflation rate was 3.3%. The inflation rate is measured by the CPI, with monthly inflation referring to February 2026 compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation is for February 2026 compared to the same month of the previous year.
In February 2026, compared to the previous month, the increase was registered in the following groups: ‘Information and communication’ (1.3%), ‘Alcoholic beverages, tobacco’ (1.0%), ‘Restaurants and accommodation services’ (0.8%) and ‘Food and non-alcoholic beverage’ (0.7%). The decrease in the prices was recorded in the following groups: ‘Clothing and footwear’ (-1.9%) and ‘Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance’ (-0.9%).
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
In February 2026, the monthly inflation rate, measured by CPI, was 0.4% and the annual inflation rate in February 2026, compared to February 2025, was 3.3%. The inflation rate since the beginning of the year (February 2026 compared to December 2025) was 1.0%.
The annual average inflation rate for the period March 2025 - February 2026, compared to the period March 2024 - February 2025, was 4.5%.
Monthly inflation
In terms of CPI, in February 2026 the prices of goods and services increased in the following consumer groups:
- ‘Information and communication’ - an increase of 1.3%;
- ‘Alcoholic beverages, tobacco’ - an increase of 1.0%;
- ‘Restaurants and accommodation services’ - an increase of 0.8%;
- ‘Food and non-alcoholic beverages’ - an increase of 0.7%;
- ‘Recreation, sport and culture’ - an increase of 0.5%;
- ‘Personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services’ - an increase of 0.4%;
- ‘Health’ - an increase of 0.3%;
- ‘Education services’ - an increase of 0.3%;
- ‘Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels’ - an increase of 0.2%.
The prices of goods and services decreased in the following consumer groups:
- ‘Clothing and footwear’ - a decrease of 1.9%;
- ‘Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance’ - a decrease of 0.9%.
The prices of the goods and services in the groups ‘Insurance and financial services’ and ‘Transport’ remained unchanged.
Accumulated inflation
The accumulated inflation, measured by CPI, for the last three years (February 2026 compared to February 2023) was 11.1% and for the last five years (February 2026 compared to February 2021) was 41.8%.
Final data for January 2026
According to the final data of the NSI, in January 2026 the monthly inflation rate was 0.6% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in January 2026 compared to January 2025 was 3.5%.
Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP)
In February 2026, the monthly inflation rate, measured by HICP, was 0.2% and the annual inflation rate in February 2026 compared to February 2025 was 2.1%. The inflation rate since the beginning of the year (February 2026 compared to December 2025) was 0.8%.
The annual average inflation rate for the period March 2025 - February 2026 compared to the period March 2024 - February 2025 was 3.3%.
Monthly inflation
In terms of HICP, in February 2026, the prices of goods and services increased in the following consumer groups:
- ‘Alcoholic beverages, tobacco’ - an increase of 0.8%;
- ‘Restaurants and accommodation services’ - an increase of 0.8%;
- ‘Information and communication’ - an increase of 0.7%;
- ‘Food and non-alcoholic beverages’ - an increase of 0.5%;
- ‘Personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services’ - an increase of 0.5%;
- ‘Health’ - an increase of 0.4%;
- ‘Recreation, sport and culture’ - an increase of 0.4%;
- ‘Education services’ - an increase of 0.3%;
- ‘Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels’ - an increase of 0.2%.
The prices of goods and services decreased in the following consumer groups:
- ‘Clothing and footwear’ - a decrease of 1.7%;
- ‘Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance’ - a decrease of 0.5%;
- ‘Transport’ - a decrease of 0.5%.
The prices of the services in the group ‘Insurance and financial services’ remained unchanged.
Accumulated inflation
The accumulated inflation, measured by HICP, for the last three years (February 2026 compared to February 2023) was 9.8% and for the last five years (February 2026 compared to February 2021) was 35.3%.
Price Index of a Small Basket (PISB)
In February 2026, the monthly rate, measured by PISB, was 0.6% and the annual rate in February 2026, compared to February 2025, was 2.9%.
In February 2026, compared to the previous month, the prices of goods and services in the small basket for the 20% of households with the lowest income changed as follows:
- ‘Food products’ - an increase of 1.3%;
- ‘Services’ - an increase of 0.1%;
- ‘Non-food products’ - a decrease of 0.2%.
Final data for January 2026
According to the final data of the NSI, in January 2026 the monthly rate, measured by PISB, was 0.5% compared to the previous month, and the annual rate in January 2026 compared to January 2025 was 2.9%
