Belgium Annual Inflation Edges Up in July

Belgium's annual inflation rate edged up to 3.56% in July 2026 from 3.4% in the previous month. Energy inflation accelerated slightly to 10.6% from 10.3%, while electricity prices rose at a faster pace (7.9% vs 6.2%). Additional upward pressure came from housing and utilities (4.6% vs 3.6%), driven in part by faster rent inflation (3.4% vs 3.2%), as well as recreation and culture (8.3% vs 8.1%), health (6.7% vs 6.6%), and insurance and financial services (2% vs 1.8%). Meanwhile, inflation eased for transport (5.5% vs 7.9%), restaurants and hotels (4.1% vs 5.9%), clothing and footwear (1.2% vs 2.3%), furnishings (0.1% vs 0.4%), and information and communication (1.6% vs 1.9%). Food prices fell 0.12% after rising 1.2% in June. On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 0.63%, up from a 0.3% rise in the previous month.

Belgium's annual inflation eased to 3.4% in June 2026 from 4.08% in May, slowing for the first time in four months. Energy inflation slowed to 10.3% from 11.2%, while motor fuel prices were 18.8% higher than a year earlier but fell 6.4% from the previous month. The moderation was also driven by food prices, which declined 0.1% after rising 1.2% in May, and softer inflation for transport (5.5% vs 7.9%). Inflation also eased for clothing and footwear (1.2% vs 2.3%), furnishings (0.1% vs 0.4%), information and communication (1.6% vs 1.9%), and restaurants and hotels (4.1% vs 5.9%). Meanwhile, inflation accelerated for housing and utilities (4.6% vs 3.6%), reflecting faster electricity price growth (6.2% vs 2.9%), as well as for recreation and culture (8.3% vs 8.1%) and health (6.7% vs 6.6%). Inflation was unchanged for education (2.4%) and financial services (2.2%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.3% in June after rising 0.08% in May.

Belgium’s annual inflation edged up to 4.08% in May 2026, from 4.01% in April, marking the highest reading since January 2025. Energy prices increased by 11.2%, following a surge of 10.58% last month, while natural gas inflation edged down to 10.1% from 11.4%. Upward price pressures came mainly from housing and utilities (3.63% vs 3.02%) and transports (7.9% vs 7.8%), followed by restaurantes and hotels (5.85% vs 4.78%) and recreation and culture (8.07% versus 6.85%). In contrast, inflation eased for food (1.19% versus 1.89%), followed by clothing and footwear (2.26% vs 3%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (2.14% vs 2.46%), comunication (1.86% vs 3.49%) and furnishings (0.38% vs 0.95%). Meanwhile, inflation remained steady for education (2.4%) and health (6.6%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices declined 0.08%, reversing a 1.47% increase in April.