Malta Inflation Rate Eases in September

Malta's annual inflation rate stood at 2.3% in February 2026, unchanged from the previous month. It remained the lowest reading since March 2025, as prices were stable for housing and utilities (1.7%), health (3.3%), and education (4.4%). In addition, costs edged lower for food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.5% vs 3.7%), furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance (1.6% vs 1.8%), and restaurants and accommodation services (3.6% vs 3.7%), while deflation worsened for information and communication (-4.1% vs -2.6%) and insurance and financial services (-1.1% vs -0.7%). In contrast, prices accelerated for transport (2.1% vs 1.6%), recreation, sport, and culture (4.1% vs 3.9%), and personal care, social protection, and miscellaneous goods and services (3.9% vs 3.8%). Deflation softened for clothing and footwear (-2.1% vs -2.7%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.4%, rebounding from 0.6% in January and marking the first increase in three months.

Malta’s annual inflation rate eased to 2.3% in January 2026 from an upwardly revised 2.5% in December, marking the lowest level since March 2025. Prices slowed in transport (1.6% vs 2.7%), housing and utilities (1.7% vs 1.8%), furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance (1.8% vs 2.2%), and alcoholic beverages and tobacco (1.7% vs 2.2%). At the same time, costs were unchanged for food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.7%) and health (3.3%). Meanwhile, inflation rose in recreation and culture (3.9% vs 3.4%), education (4.4% vs 4.3%), restaurants and hotels (3.7% vs 3.1%), and miscellaneous goods and services (3.8% vs 3.5%), while deflation eased for clothing and footwear (-2.7% vs -3.2%) and communication (-2.6% vs -5.5%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.6%, following a 0.4% decline in the previous month.

Malta’s annual inflation rate slowed to 2.4% in December 2025 from 2.5% in the previous month. This also marked the lowest reading since September, mainly driven by ongoing costs deflation for clothing and footwear, which dropped by 3.2%, deepening from a 1.7% fall in November. Prices also declined further for communication (5.5% vs 5%), while inflation softened for restaurants and hotels (3.1% vs 4%). In contrast, costs continued to increase for food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.7% vs 3.4%), furnishings, household equipment and maintenance (2.2% vs 1.2%), and transport (2.7% vs 2.2%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices decreased by 0.4% in December, reversing a 0.7% gain in the preceding period.