THE MONTHLY INFLATION RATE WAS 0.9%, WHILE THE ANNUAL INFLATION RATE WAS 4.1%
The monthly inflation rate was 0.9%, while the annual inflation rate was 4.1%. The inflation rate is measured by the CPI, with monthly inflation referring to March 2026 compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation is for March 2026 compared to the same month of the previous year.
In March 2026, compared to the previous month, the increase was registered in the following groups: ‘Transport’ (7.2%), ‘Alcoholic beverages, tobacco’ (0.8%) and ‘Information and communication’ (0.8%). The decrease in the prices was recorded in the following groups: ‘Recreation, sport and culture’ (-2.0%), ‘Clothing and footwear’ (-0.9%) and ‘Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance’ (-0.2%).
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
In March 2026, the monthly inflation rate, measured by CPI, was 0.9% and the annual inflation rate in March 2026, compared to March 2025, was 4.1%. The inflation rate since the beginning of the year (March 2026 compared to December 2025) was 1.9%[1].
The annual average inflation rate for the period April 2025 - March 2026 compared to the period April 2024 - March 2025 was 4.5%.
Monthly inflation
In terms of CPI, in March 2026, the prices of goods and services increased in the following consumer groups:
- ‘Transport’ - an increase of 7.2%;
- ‘Alcoholic beverages, tobacco’ - an increase of 0.8%;
- ‘Information and communication’ - an increase of 0.8%;
- ‘Restaurants and accommodation services’ - an increase of 0.7%;
- ‘Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels’ - an increase of 0.7%;
- ‘Personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services’ - an increase of 0.7%;
- ‘Food and non-alcoholic beverages’ - an increase of 0.5%;
- ‘Health’ - an increase of 0.5%;
- ‘Education services’ - an increase of 0.1%.
The prices of goods and services decreased in the following consumer groups:
- ‘Recreation, sport and culture’ - a decrease of 2.0%;
- ‘Clothing and footwear’ - a decrease of 0.9%;
- ‘Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance’ - a decrease of 0.2%.
The prices of the services in a group ‘Insurance and financial services’ remained unchanged.
Accumulated inflation
The accumulated inflation, measured by CPI, for the last three years (March 2026 compared to March 2023) was 11.5% and for the last five years (March 2026 compared to March 2021) was 42.9%.
Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP)
In March 2026, the monthly inflation rate, measured by HICP, was 1.0% and the annual inflation rate in March 2026 compared to March 2025 was 2.8%. The inflation rate since the beginning of the year (March 2026 compared to December 2025) was 1.9%[2].
The annual average inflation rate for the period April 2025 - March 2026 compared to the period April 2024 - March 2025 was 3.2%.
Monthly inflation
In terms of HICP, in March 2026, the prices of goods and services increased in the following consumer groups:
- ‘Transport’ - an increase of 4.3%;
- ‘Recreation, sport and culture’ - an increase of 1.1%;
- ‘Restaurants and accommodation services’ - an increase of 1.0%;
- ‘Alcoholic beverages, tobacco’ - an increase of 0.7%;
- ‘Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels’ - an increase of 0.6%;
- ‘Food and non-alcoholic beverages’ - an increase of 0.5%;
- ‘Information and communication’ - 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%;
- ‘Education services’ - an increase of 0.1%.
The prices of goods and services decreased in the following consumer group:
- ‘Clothing and footwear’ - a decrease of 1.1%.
The prices of the goods and services in following groups ‘Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance’ and ‘Insurance and financial services’ remained unchanged.
Accumulated inflation
The accumulated inflation, measured by HICP, for the last three years (March 2026 compared to March 2023) was 10.2% and for the last five years (March 2026 compared to March 2021) was 36.5%.
Price Index of a Small Basket (PISB)
In March 2026, the monthly rate, measured by PISB, was 0.3% and the annual rate in March 2026, compared to March 2025, was 2.7%.
In March 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:
- ‘Services’ - an increase of 0.6%;
- ‘Food products’ - an increase of 0.4%.
The prices of goods in ‘Non-food products’ remained unchanged.
