Belgium Annual Inflation Edges Up in July

Belgium’s annual inflation rate rose by 3.97% in August 2026 from 3.56% in the previous month, marking the strongest growth in three months. Energy prices jumped to 16.47% from 10.59%, while electricity inflation slowed to 7.8% from 7.9%. Moreover, costs increased for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (2.41% vs 1.22% in July), clothing and footwear (2.97% vs 1.21%), housing utilities (6.92% vs 4.88%), furniture and household equipment (0.46% vs 0.41%), transportation (5.29% vs 5.23%), information and communication (1.64% vs 0.92%), and insurance and financial services (3.69% vs 3.43%). Meanwhile, price growth moderated for food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.26% vs 0.29%), health (6.62% vs 6.66%), recreation and culture (8.16% vs 8.90%), and miscellaneous goods and services (1.68% vs 1.80%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices grew by 0.41% in August, easing from a 0.63% increase 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.