Albania Annual Inflation Steady at 2.3% in January

Albania’s annual inflation rate stood at 2.3% in January 2026, unchanged from the previous month. Prices increased mostly in housing, water, electricity, and other fuels (4.4%) and food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.8%), followed by alcoholic beverages and tobacco (2.7%), furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (2.0%), and restaurants and accommodation services (2.4%). Costs also rose in recreation, sport and culture (4.9%), insurance and financial services (4.4%), and personal care and miscellaneous goods and services (2.6%), and education services (1.9%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.4% in January 2026, easing from a 0.7% gain in December 2025.

Albania’s annual inflation rate accelerated to 2.3% in December 2025 from 2.1% in November. The largest upward contributions came from housing, water, electricity, and other fuels (4.8%), followed by food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.6%). Prices also rose for furniture, household goods, and maintenance (2.1%), recreation and culture (3.6%), and education services (1.9%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 0.7%, rebounding from a 0.2% decline in November.

The annual inflation rate in Albania eased to 2.1% in November 2025, the lowest reading since March, down from 2.3% in October. Prices rose at a slower pace for food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.5% vs 1.6% in October), clothing and footwear (0.6% vs 1.8%), and housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels (4.0% vs 4.3%). Inflation also moderated for hotels, coffeehouses, and restaurants (2.3% vs 2.4%), miscellaneous goods and services (1.6% vs 1.7%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (2.9% vs 3.1%), furnishings and household maintenance (2.8% vs 2.9%), recreation and culture (2.6% vs 3.2%), and education services (1.9% vs 2.0%). In contrast, higher price increases were observed in transport (0.8% vs 0.5%), health (0.6% vs 0.5%), and communication (1.3% vs 1.1%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.2%, the first decline in four months, following a 0.1% rise in October.