Georgia Inflation Rate Hits Over 2-Year High

Georgia's annual inflation rate eased to 5.7% in May 2026 from 5.9% in the previous month. Despite the moderation in the headline rate, price growth accelerated in transport (15.1% vs. 10.3% in April), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (7.2% vs. 6.5%), and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (7.0% vs. 6.5%). Inflation also edged higher for clothing and footwear (3.0% vs. 2.9%), health (5.1% vs. 4.9%), and restaurants and hotels (7.6% vs. 7.5%), while education costs rose at a steady pace of 2.4%. Meanwhile, inflation moderated for food and non-alcoholic beverages (5.2% vs. 7.5%) and miscellaneous goods and services (8.0% vs. 9.0%). Deflation persisted in furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (-1.3% vs. -2.4%), communication (-6.4% vs. -4.0%), and recreation and culture (-0.1% vs. -0.4%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices eased 0.3% in May, from a 1.7% increase in the preceding period.

The inflation rate in Georgia advanced by 5.9% year-on-year in April 2026, the highest level since February 2023, from 4.3% in the previous month. Costs increased in alcoholic beverages and tobacco (6.5% vs 6.2% in March), housing utilities (6.5% vs 0.6%), health (4.9% vs 4.2%), transportation (10.3% vs 4%), and restaurants and hotels (7.5% vs 7%). At the same time, inflation remained steady for food and non-alcoholic beverages (at 7.5%) and education (at 2.4%), while prices recovered for clothing and footwear (2.9% vs -0.8%). Costs also fell at a slower pace for furnishings, household equipment, and maintenance (-2.4% vs -3.2%), communication (4% vs -4.3%), and recreation and culture (-0.4% vs -1.5%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices jumped 1.7% in April, following a 0.8% increase in the preceding period.

The annual inflation rate in Georgia edged down to 4.3% in March 2026, the lowest level in three months, from 4.6% in February. Food and non-alcoholic beverages remained the main driver of inflation, although price growth slowed to 7.5% from 9.5% in the previous month. This was largely due to increases in fish (21.2%), fruit and grapes (13.4%), bread and cereals (9.6%), and meat (9.6%). Transport inflation accelerated to 4% (vs 0.9%), driven by higher costs for transport services (7.3%) and the operation of personal transport equipment (5.7%). Meanwhile, prices for miscellaneous goods and services rose by 9.8%, the same as in February, due to personal effects (58.1%), as well as insurance (8.5%) and personal care (4.3%). Alcoholic beverages and tobacco prices increased by 6.2%, up from 4.3% in the previous month. In contrast, inflation moderated for health (4.2% vs 5.9%) and restaurants and hotels (7.0% vs 7.2%). Compared to the previous month, the CPI went up 0.8%.