Albania Annual Inflation Climbs Further to 2.8%

Albania's annual inflation rate accelerated to 2.8% in April 2026, up from 2.6% in March and marking its highest level since February 2024. Upward price pressures were mainly due to transport prices, which rose 8.5% from 7.5% in the previous month, followed by furnishings (2.8% versus 2.6%), restaurants and hotels (2.8% versus 2.4%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (2.7% versus 2%), health (0.8% versus 0.6%), education (2% versus 1.9%) and recreation and culture (3.7% versus 2.9%). In contrast, housing and utilities price growth eased slightly to 4.7% from 4.8%, while food price growth stood at 1.3%. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.3% from 0.7% in March.

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.