North Macedonia Inflation Rises to 2.6% in August

The annual inflation rate in North Macedonia rose by 2.6% in August 2026 from a two-year low of 2.3% in the previous month. Costs increased for clothing and footwear (2.1% vs 1.8% in July), housing utilities (3.8% vs 3.6%), health (1.5% vs 1.3%), transportation (3.4% vs 1.1%), information and communication (1.9% vs 2.0%), recreation and culture (8.8% vs 5.7%), education (5.0% vs 4.9%), and restaurants and hotels (4.8% vs 4.4%). Moreover, price growth remained steady for miscellaneous goods and services (at 1.9%). In contrast, inflation moderated for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (9.4% vs 9.5%), food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.0% vs 1.1%), furniture and household equipment (1.7% vs 2.1%), and insurance and financial services (0.3% vs 1.6%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices grew by 0.4% in August, following a 0.1% gain in the preceding period.

The annual inflation rate in North Macedonia eased to 2.3% in July 2026 from 3.4% in the previous month, marking the lowest reading since August 2024. Price growth moderated for food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.1% vs 2.5% in June), clothing and footwear (1.8% vs 2.1%), furniture, household equipment, and routine household maintenance (2.1% vs 4.2%), health (1.3% vs 1.8%), transportation (1.1% vs 6.2%), information and communication (2.0% vs 2.8%), restaurants and hotels (4.4% vs 4.9%), and insurance and financial services (1.6% vs 1.7%). In contrast, costs increased for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (9.5% vs 9.3%), recreation and culture (5.7% vs 5.1%), education (4.9% vs 4.6%), housing and utilities (3.6% vs 2.8%), and miscellaneous goods and services (1.9% vs 1.6%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices grew by 0.1% in July, rebounding from a 0.5% drop in the preceding period.

The annual inflation rate in North Macedonia eased to 3.4% in June 2026 from 4.8% in the previous month, marking the lowest level since February. Price growth slowed across several categories, including food and beverages (2.5% vs. 4.7% in May), housing and utilities (2.8% vs. 2.9%), transportation (6.2% vs. 11%), clothing and footwear (2.1% vs. 2.2%), furniture, household equipment, and routine household maintenance (4.2% vs. 4.6%), restaurants and hotels (4.9% vs. 5%), recreation, sports and culture (5.1% vs. 5.5%), and personal care, social protection, and miscellaneous goods and services (1.6% vs. 2.1%). Meanwhile, price growth held steady for alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and narcotics (9.3%), health care (1.8%), information and communication (2.8%), and education (4.6%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.5% in June, reversing a 0.6% increase in May, marking the lowest reading since January.