Bulgaria Inflation Cools to 9-Month Low

Bulgaria’s annual inflation rate eased to 3.5% in January 2026, its lowest in nine months, from 5.0% in December, according to flash estimates. Price growth slowed mainly for food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.9% vs 5.5% in December), housing and utilities (3.7% vs 7.8%), recreation, sport, and culture (16.3% vs 17.1%), and restaurants and accommodation services (9.2% vs 9.9%). Additionally, costs dropped for transport (-1.4% vs 0.3%), health (-4.1% vs -3.6%), and information and communication (-2.2% vs 0.2%). Meanwhile, prices rose for furnishing, household equipment and maintenance (1.4% vs 1.1%) and personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services (6.1% vs 5.4%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased by 0.6% in January, following a 0.1% rise in the previous month.

Bulgaria’s annual inflation rate eased to 5% in December 2025 from 5.2% in November. This marked the lowest inflation rate since June due to softer price increases for housing and utilities (7.6% vs 8% in November), transport (0.5% vs 1.1%), recreation and culture (14.3% vs 18.4%), restaurants and hotels (9.8% vs 10.2%), miscellaneous goods and services (4.9% vs 5.6%), and communication (2.6% vs 3.9%). Additionally, costs for health continued to fall (-4.7% vs -4.5%). Meanwhile, prices increased for food and non-alcoholic beverages (5.6% vs 5%), furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (1.2% vs 1%), and alcoholic beverages and tobacco (7.5% vs 7.2%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged up by 0.1%, following a 0.5% rise in the prior month.

Bulgaria’s annual inflation rate slowed to 5.2% in November 2025 from 5.3% in the previous month. This marked the lowest reading since June, mainly driven by softer price increases for food and non-alcoholic beverages (5% vs 6.4% in October), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (7.2% vs 7.8%), communication (3.9% vs 5.4%) and education (8.4% vs 8.7%). Additionally, cost deflation remained steady for health (at 4.5%). On the other hand, inflation accelerated for furnishings, household equipment and maintenance (1% vs 0.6%), transport (1.1% vs 0.5%), recreation and culture (18.4% vs 15.7%) and miscellaneous goods and services (5.6% vs 5%), while it remained steady for restaurant and hotels (at 10.2%). Prices also rebounded for clothing and footwear (1% vs -0.3%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.5% in November, marking the second month of increase, following a 0.9% gain in the preceding period.