Bulgaria Inflation Rate Eases in July

Bulgaria’s annual inflation rate eased to 4.5% in July 2026 from 5.4% in the previous month, slightly above the preliminary estimate of 4.4% and marking the lowest reading in four months. The slowdown was driven mainly by softer price growth for transport (14.5% vs. 16.8%), food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.2% vs. 2.4%), and recreation, sport and culture (7.5% vs. 10.8%). Inflation also moderated for restaurants and accommodation services (9.3% vs. 9.6%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (5.7% vs. 6.7%), health (4.0% vs. 4.3%), and insurance and financial services (1.1% vs. 2.7%). Meanwhile, inflation accelerated slightly for housing and utilities (5.1% vs. 5.0%), while the decline in clothing and footwear prices eased (-0.4% vs. -1.0%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.8% in July, rebounding from a 0.9% decline in June and exceeding the preliminary estimate of a 0.7% increase.

The annual inflation rate in Bulgaria eased to 4.4% in July 2026 from 5.4% in the previous month, according to preliminary estimates. The slowdown was driven mainly by softer price growth for transport, slowing to 12.4% from 16.8%, and food, easing to 1.4% from 2.4%. Price growth also slowed for recreation and culture (7.4% vs 10.8%), restaurants and hotels (9.3% vs 9.6%), education (9.2% vs 9.4%), health (4% vs 4.3%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (5.7% vs 6.7%), furnishings (0.3% vs 0.4%), and insurance and financial services (0.3% vs 2.7%). Meanwhile, inflation accelerated slightly for housing and utilities (5.1% vs 5%), while the decline in clothing and footwear prices softened (-0.4% vs -1%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.7% in July, rebounding from a 0.9% fall in June.

Bulgaria’s annual inflation rate eased to 5.4% in June 2026 from 6.9% in the previous month, below preliminary estimates of 5.6%. Price growth moderated across most categories, particularly food and non-alcoholic beverages (2.4% vs. 4.4% in May), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (6.7% vs. 7.7%), housing and utilities (5.0% vs. 5.2%), furnishings and household equipment (0.4% vs. 0.9%), health (4.3% vs. 4.5%), transportation (16.8% vs. 21.6%), recreation and culture (10.8% vs. 15.7%), education (9.4% vs. 9.1%), and restaurants and hotels (9.6% vs. 9.4%). At the same time, deflation in clothing and footwear deepened (-1.0% vs. -0.4%). In contrast, inflation accelerated for miscellaneous goods and services (6.1% vs. 5.9%) and insurance and financial services (2.7% vs. 1.3%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.9% in June after remaining unchanged in the previous month, exceeding preliminary estimates of a 0.8% decline.