Albania Inflation Accelerates to Highest Since 2024

Albania's annual inflation rate accelerated slightly to 2.6% in March 2026 from 2.5% in February, marking the highest price rise since February 2024. Transport prices led gains at 7.5%, followed by utilities at 4.8%, insurance and financial services at 4.5%, recreation and sport at 2.9%, furniture and household equipment at 2.6%, restaurants and accommodation at 2.4%, alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 2.0%, personal care and miscellaneous goods at 2.0%, education at 1.9%, and food and non-alcoholic beverages at 1.3%. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.7%.

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.