Croatia Inflation Rises to 3-Month High

The annual inflation rate in Croatia rose to 3.8% in February 2026, following a 3.4% gain in the previous month, according to preliminary estimates. Among the main components, prices increased for food, beverages, and tobacco (3.6%), energy (4.3%), and services (7.7%). In contrast, costs for non-food industrial goods excluding energy fell by 0.1%. On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged up by 0.3% in February, unchanged from the previous month.

Croatia’s inflation rate rose by 3.4% year-on-year in January 2026, from 3.3% in the previous month and in line with preliminary estimates. Prices increased notably in alcoholic beverages and tobacco (7.5% vs 4.6% in December 2025) and housing utilities (10.1% vs 8.4%). At the same time, costs recovered in clothing and footwear (0.8% vs -1%), while deflation slowed in transport (-0.3% vs -1.8%). On the other hand, price growth eased in food and non-alcoholic beverages (2.1% vs 2.8%), communication (2.4% vs 5.3%), recreation and culture (3.3% vs 3.4%), restaurants and hotels (6.8% vs 7.8%), and health (4.1% vs 4.3%). Costs also declined in furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance (-0.9% vs 0.4%) and education (-1.6% vs -1.2%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased by 0.3% in January, recovering from a 0.4% drop in December. In EU-harmonised terms, annual inflation eased to 3.6% from 3.8%.

The annual inflation rate in Croatia edged up to 3.4% in January 2026, following an eight-month low of 3.3% in the previous month, preliminary data showed. Prices were estimated to have risen by 3.0% for food, beverages, and tobacco, 0.1% for non-food industrial goods excluding energy, 7.2% for services, and 3.7% for energy. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.3% in January, rebounding from a 0.4% drop in December 2025, which marked the steepest monthly decline since January 2024.