Bulgaria Inflation Rate at 6.9% in May

Bulgaria's annual inflation rate eased to 5.6% in June 2026 from 6.9% in May, according to preliminary estimates. The slowdown was driven mainly by softer price increases for transport (17.8% vs 21.6% in May), recreation, sport and culture (10.8% vs 15.7%), food and non-alcoholic beverages (2.5% vs 4.4%), alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics (6.7% vs 7.7%), housing and utilities (5.0% vs 5.2%), health (4.2% vs 4.5%), and furnishings, household equipment and maintenance (0.4% vs 0.9%). Meanwhile, inflation accelerated for education services (9.4% vs 9.1%), restaurants and accommodation services (9.6% vs 9.4%), insurance and financial services (2.7% vs 1.3%), and personal care and miscellaneous goods and services (6.2% vs 5.9%). Prices for clothing and footwear continued to decline, with the pace of deflation deepening to 1.0% from 0.4%. On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.8%, following a flat reading in May.

The annual inflation rate in Bulgaria was confirmed at 6.9% in May 2026, below the preliminary estimate of 7.0%, and slightly above 6.8% in April. The reading remained the highest since August 2023. Transport costs continued to record the strongest increase, rising 21.6% year-on-year amid higher fuel prices linked to disruptions in global oil supplies caused by the Middle East conflict. Price growth also accelerated for alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics (7.7% vs 7.4%), housing and utilities (5.2% vs 4.7%), and restaurants and accommodation services (9.4% vs 9.3%). Meanwhile, inflation eased for recreation, sport and culture (15.7% vs 17.0%), food and non-alcoholic beverages (4.4% vs 5.3%), and furnishings and household maintenance (0.9% vs 1.2%). Prices for clothing and footwear fell 0.4%, after being unchanged in April. On a monthly basis, consumer prices were flat in May, following a 1.8% increase in the previous month.

The annual inflation rate in Bulgaria climbed to 7.0% in May 2026 from 6.8% in the previous month, according to preliminary estimates. It marked the highest reading since August 2023, as prices accelerated mainly for transportation (22.1% vs 18.5% in April) due to the ongoing Middle East war that disrupted oil supplies. Prices increased as well for alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics (7.7% vs 7.4%), housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (5.2% vs 4.7%), and restaurants and accommodation services (9.4% vs 9.3%). Meanwhile, recreation, sport and culture inflation remained elevated at 15.8%, although it eased from 17.0% in April. In contrast, price growth slowed for food and non-alcoholic beverages (4.9% vs 5.3%) and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (0.9% vs 1.2%), while clothing and footwear prices declined (-0.4% vs 0.0%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.2%, easing significantly from a 1.8% increase in the previous month.