Bulgaria Inflation Rate Rises in September

Bulgaria’s annual inflation rate rose to 5.7% in September 2026 from 5.1% in the previous month, slightly above the preliminary estimate of 5.6% and marking the highest reading in four months. The acceleration was driven mainly by price growth for transport (25.9% vs 21.5% in August), food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.6% vs 0.8%), and housing and utilities (5.4% vs 5.1%), information and communication (1.6% vs 1.5%), and recreation, sport, and culture (8.5% vs 7.6%). In contrast, prices moderated in health (3.1% vs 3.3%), education (7.7% vs 9.1%), restaurants and accommodation services (9.5% vs 9.6%), and personal care, social protection, and miscellaneous goods and services (5.2% vs 5.6%), while prices declined for furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance (-0.5% vs 0.3%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.2% in September, from a 0.6% increase in the previous month.

The annual inflation rate in Bulgaria rose to 5.6% in September 2026 from 5.1% in the previous month, preliminary estimates showed. This marked the highest reading since May, as prices accelerated for food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.4% vs 0.8% in August), transport (25.6% vs 21.5%), alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and narcotics (6.9% vs 6.1%), housing and utilities (5.4% vs 5.1%), information and communication (1.6% vs 1.5%), and recreation, sport, and culture (8.2% vs 7.6%). In contrast, prices increased at a slower pace in health (3.1% vs 3.3%), education (7.7% vs 9.1%), restaurants and accommodation services (9.5% vs 9.6%), and personal care, social protection, and miscellaneous goods and services (5.1% vs 5.6%), while prices declined for furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance (-0.5% vs 0.3%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.3%, reversing a 0.6% gain in August.

Bulgaria’s annual inflation rate rose to 5.1% in August 2026 from a four-month low of 4.5% in the previous month, confirming preliminary estimates. Costs increased for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (6.1% vs 5.7% in July), transportation (21.5% vs 14.5%), recreation and culture (7.6% vs 7.5%), restaurants and hotels (9.6% vs 9.3%), and miscellaneous goods and services (5.6% vs 5.3%). Meanwhile, inflation remained steady for housing and utilities (at 5.1%) and furnishings and household equipment (at 0.3%), while prices for clothing and footwear were flat following a 0.4% drop a month earlier. On the other hand, price growth moderated for food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.8% vs 1.2%), health (3.3% vs 4.0%), education (9.1% vs 9.2%), and information and communication (1.5% vs 1.8%), while declines were recorded for insurance and financial services (-0.3% vs 1.1%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices grew by 0.6% in August, easing from a 0.8% increase in the preceding period.