Moldova Inflation Rate Climbs to 17-Month High

The annual inflation rate in Moldova rose to 5.8% year-on-year in March 2026, up from 5.1% in the previous month, marking the highest level since December 2025. Prices of non-food products accelerated (4.8% vs 1.9% in February), driven by strong increases in fuels and motor fuels, footwear, construction materials, and medicines. Meanwhile, inflation for food products eased (6.3% vs 6.9%), despite notable increases in eggs, fruits, vegetables, bread, vegetable oil, meat and processed meat, canned goods, and milk and dairy products. Price growth in services also moderated (6.6% vs 7%), supported by increases in water supply and sewage services, electricity, passenger transport, and public catering. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 1.3% in March, up from 0.5% in the prior month.

The annual inflation rate in Moldova rose to 5.1% year-on-year in February 2026, up from a one and a half year low of 4.9% in the previous month. Prices rose for food products (6.9% vs 6.2% in January), driven by higher prices for fish and tinned fish, eggs, vegetables, and alcoholic drinks. Non-food goods prices also edged up (1.9% vs 1.8%), supported by gains in cigarettes, textiles, and travel goods and other leather goods. Meanwhile, costs for services eased (7% vs 7.2%), due to softer increases in education, utilities, services for household maintenance and renovation, repair of household appliances, passenger transport services, and public catering services. On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged down by 0.5% in February from 0.9% in the last two months.

The annual inflation rate in Moldova eased to 4.8% in January 2026 from 6.8% in the previous month, marking the lowest level since July 2024. Non-food prices moderated to 1.8% from 2.3% in December, largely due to a steeper decline in fuels and lubricants. Inflation in services also slowed to 7.2% from 14.9%, reflecting lower costs for communal housing services and public catering. In contrast, cost for food products continued to rise (6.2% vs 5.6%), mainly driven by faster increases in meat, meat preparations and preserves, eggs, vegetables, and vegetable oils. On a monthly basis, consumer prices stood at 0.9% in January, unchanged from the previous month.