Bosnia and Herzegovina Inflation Slows in May

The annual inflation rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina eased to 5.6% in May 2026, down from 6.8% in April. The slowdown was driven by easing inflation in transports, which slowed to 23.7% from 25.9%, followed by food (0.6% vs 2.6%), furnishings (1.6% vs 2.8%), health (5.5% vs 5.7%), recreation and culture (3.4% vs 4.4%), education (3.4% vs 3.6%) and restaurants and hotels (5.6% vs 6.2%). On the other hand, inflation accelerated for housing and utilities (11.5% vs 11.0%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (3.5% vs 3.4%) and communications (3.3% vs 3.2%). Meanwhile, clothing and footwear prices declined slightly faster to 6.9% from 6.8%. On a monthly basis, consumer prices were down 0.9% in May, partially reversing a 1.9% increase in the prior period.

The annual inflation rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina accelerated to 6.8% in April 2026, up from 5.1% in March. This marks the highest level since May 2023, as transportation costs surged by 25.9% from 11.1% in the previous month. Additional upward price pressures came from housing and utilities (11% versus 9.4%), furnishings (2.8% versus 2.4%) and communication (3.2% versus 1.5%). In contrasts, inflation slowed for food (2.6% versus 3.3%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (3.4% versus 4.1%), health (5.7% versus 6.3%), recreation and culture (4.4% versus 4.6%) and restaurants and hotels (6.2% versus 6.5%). Meanwhile, deflation eased for clothing and footwear (-6.3% versus -6.8%), while inflation stood for education (3.6%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 1.9%, accelerating from 1.7% in the previous month.

The annual inflation rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina rose to 5.1% in March 2026, accelerating from 3.3% in the previous month and marking the highest reading since May 2023. Prices increased faster for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (4.1% vs 3.1% in February), housing and utilities (9.4% vs 8.3%), furnishings and household equipment (2.4% vs 2.0%), health services (6.3% vs 6.2%), education (3.6% vs 3.4%), and miscellaneous goods and services (2.4% vs 2.3%). At the same time, transport costs rebounded sharply to 11.1%, following a 3% decline in the previous month, while prices remained steady for communication (1.5%) and recreation and culture (4.6%). In contrast, price gains moderated for food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.3% vs 3.9%) and restaurants and hotels (6.5% vs 6.7%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 1.7% from 0.5% in the previous month, marking the highest monthly increase in over three years.