Hungary Inflation Slows to 5-Month Low

The annual inflation rate in Hungary rose to 1.8% in March 2026 from a more than nine-year low of 1.4% in the previous month. Main upward pressures came from higher costs of alcoholic beverages and tobacco (5.5% vs 5.8% in February), fuel and power (4.3% vs 4.2%), services (4.1% vs 4.2%), and clothing and footwear (1.4% vs 0.7%). On the other hand, prices continued to decline for other goods, including motor fuels, down 0.7% after a 3.1% drop in February. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.4% in March, the sharpest increase since July last year, following a 0.1% gain in the preceding period. Meanwhile, annual core inflation rate, which excludes volatile items such as food and energy, slowed to 1.9% in March, marking the softest rise since September 2018 and down from 2.1% in the prior month.

The annual inflation rate in Hungary slowed to 1.4% in February 2026 from 2.1% in the previous month, below market forecasts of 1.7%. This marked the lowest reading since November 2016, mainly due to slower cost increases for food (0.2% vs 1.3% in January), clothing and footwear (0.7% vs 1.6%), fuel and power (4.2% vs 6.2%), and services (4.2% vs 5%). On the other hand, prices declined at a softer pace for other goods, including motor fuels (-3.1% vs -3.5%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.1% in February, easing from a 0.3% gain in the preceding period. Meanwhile, annual core inflation rate, which excludes volatile items such as food and energy, slowed to 2.1% in February from 2.7% in the prior month, marking the softest rise since September 2018.

The annual inflation rate in Hungary slowed to 2.1% in January 2026 from 3.3% in the previous month, below market expectations of 2.4%. This marked the lowest level since March 2018, mainly driven by softer price increases for food (1.3% vs 2.6% in December 2025), alcoholic beverages and tobacco products (6.3% vs 7.1%), household energy and heating (6.2% vs 8.9%), and services (5.0% vs 6.8%). Additionally, costs continued to decline for other items and fuels (-3.5% vs -2.4%). On the other hand, inflation rose at a faster pace for consumer durables (2.9% vs 2.7%), while it remained steady for clothing items (at 1.6%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged up 0.3% in January, compared with a 0.1% increase in each of the previous two months. Annual core inflation, which excludes volatile items such as food and energy, eased to 2.7% in January from 3.8% in December 2025, marking the softest reading since January 2019.