Euro area annual inflation climbed to 2.5% in March 2026, up from 1.9% in February and slightly below market expectations of 2.6%, according to a preliminary estimate. This marked the highest rate since January 2025, pushing inflation above the ECB’s 2% target as energy costs soared 4.9%, the first annual increase in nearly a year and the sharpest since February 2023, driven by the Middle East conflict. Meanwhile, price pressures eased in other sectors: services inflation slowed to 3.2% (from 3.4%), non-energy industrial goods fell to 0.5% (from 0.7%), and food, alcohol, and tobacco dipped to 2.4% (from 2.5%). The core rate, excluding volatile energy, also cooled to 2.3% from 2.4%. Among the Eurozone’s largest economies, inflation accelerated sharply in Germany (2.8% vs. 2.0%), France (1.9% vs. 1.1%), Spain (3.3% vs. 2.5%), and the Netherlands (2.6% vs. 2.3%), while Italy's rate remained stable at 1.5%. source: EUROSTAT

Inflation Rate In the Euro Area increased to 2.50 percent in March from 1.90 percent in February of 2026. Inflation Rate in Euro Area averaged 2.24 percent from 1991 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 10.60 percent in October of 2022 and a record low of -0.60 percent in July of 2009. This page provides the latest reported value for - Euro Area Inflation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Euro Area Inflation Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on April of 2026.

Inflation Rate In the Euro Area increased to 2.50 percent in March from 1.90 percent in February of 2026. Inflation Rate in Euro Area is expected to be 2.50 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Euro Area Inflation Rate is projected to trend around 2.10 percent in 2027 and 2.00 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-18 10:00 AM
Inflation Rate YoY Final
Feb 1.9% 1.7% 1.9% 1.9%
2026-03-31 09:00 AM
Inflation Rate YoY Flash
Mar 2.5% 1.9% 2.6% 2.7%
2026-04-16 09:00 AM
Inflation Rate YoY Final
Mar 1.9% 2.5% 2.5%

Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Core Consumer Prices 101.38 100.56 points Mar 2026
Core Inflation Rate YoY 2.30 2.40 percent Mar 2026
CPI Clothing and Footwear 93.85 91.51 points Feb 2026
CPI Education 102.55 102.45 points Feb 2026
CPI Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages 101.46 101.23 points Feb 2026
CPI Housing Utilities 101.04 100.84 points Feb 2026
CPI Recreation and Culture 99.81 98.95 points Feb 2026
CPI Restaurants and Hotels 101.06 99.74 points Feb 2026
CPI Transportation 100.64 99.70 points Feb 2026
Energy Inflation 4.90 -3.10 percent Mar 2026
Energy Prices 106.97 100.16 points Mar 2026
Food Inflation 2.40 2.60 percent Feb 2026
Rent Inflation 2.80 3.00 percent Feb 2026
Services Inflation 3.20 3.40 percent Mar 2026

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
CPI 101.96 100.71 points Mar 2026
Import Prices 110.20 109.80 points Jan 2026
Consumer Inflation Expectations 2.50 2.60 percent Feb 2026
Inflation Rate YoY 2.50 1.90 percent Mar 2026
Inflation Rate MoM 1.20 0.60 percent Mar 2026
Producer Prices 125.60 124.70 points Jan 2026
PPI YoY -2.10 -2.00 percent Jan 2026


Euro Area Inflation Rate
In Euro Area, the inflation rate is calculated using the weighted average of the Harmonised Index of Consumer Price (HICP) aggregates. The main components of the HICP are: food, alcohol and tobacco (21 percent of the total weight), energy (11 percent), non-energy industrial goods (27 percent) and services (42 percent). The HICP aggregates are computed as the weighted average of each country’s HICP components. The weight of a country is its share of household final monetary consumption expenditure in the total of the country’s group. The local HICPs are supplied to the Eurostat by the National Statistical Institutes.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
2.50 1.90 10.60 -0.60 1991 - 2026 percent Monthly

News Stream
Eurozone Inflation Surges in March on Energy Shock
Euro area annual inflation climbed to 2.5% in March 2026, up from 1.9% in February and slightly below market expectations of 2.6%, according to a preliminary estimate. This marked the highest rate since January 2025, pushing inflation above the ECB’s 2% target as energy costs soared 4.9%, the first annual increase in nearly a year and the sharpest since February 2023, driven by the Middle East conflict. Meanwhile, price pressures eased in other sectors: services inflation slowed to 3.2% (from 3.4%), non-energy industrial goods fell to 0.5% (from 0.7%), and food, alcohol, and tobacco dipped to 2.4% (from 2.5%). The core rate, excluding volatile energy, also cooled to 2.3% from 2.4%. Among the Eurozone’s largest economies, inflation accelerated sharply in Germany (2.8% vs. 2.0%), France (1.9% vs. 1.1%), Spain (3.3% vs. 2.5%), and the Netherlands (2.6% vs. 2.3%), while Italy's rate remained stable at 1.5%.
2026-03-31
Eurozone February Inflation Rate Confirmed at 1.9%
The Eurozone’s annual inflation rate was confirmed at 1.9% in February 2026, up from January’s 16-month low of 1.7%, driven by a notable acceleration in services inflation, which climbed to 3.4% from 3.2%, and a pickup in non-energy industrial goods inflation, rising to 0.7% from 0.4%. Meanwhile, food, alcohol, and tobacco inflation edged down slightly to 2.5% from 2.6%, while energy prices continued to decline, though at a slower pace, falling 3.1% compared to January’s 4.0% drop. Core inflation, which excludes volatile energy, food, alcohol, and tobacco prices, increased to 2.4%, rebounding from January’s more than four-year low of 2.2%. Among the bloc’s largest economies, the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices accelerated in France (1.1% vs. 0.4%), Spain (2.5% vs. 2.4%) and Italy (1.5% vs. 1.0%), while easing slightly in Germany (2.0% vs. 2.1%).
2026-03-18
Euro Area Inflation Rebounds to 1.9% in February
Annual inflation in the Euro Area rose to 1.9% in February 2026, up from January’s 16-month low of 1.7% and above market expectations of 1.7%, according to a preliminary estimate. Price pressures strengthened notably in services, where inflation accelerated to 3.4% from 3.2%, while non-energy industrial goods inflation picked up to 0.7% from 0.4%. Energy prices continued to decline, but at a slower pace, falling 3.2% compared with a 4.0% drop in January. Food, alcohol and tobacco inflation held steady at 2.6%. Core inflation, which excludes energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, rose to 2.4%, rebounding from January’s more than four-year low of 2.2%. Among the bloc’s largest economies, the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) accelerated in France (1.1% vs. 0.4%), Spain (2.5% vs. 2.4%) and Italy (1.6% vs. 1.0%), while easing slightly in Germany (2.0% vs. 2.1%).
2026-03-03