Serbia Inflation Rate at 4-Month High

The annual inflation rate in Serbia rose 2.8% in March 2026 from 2.5% in the previous month, slightly below market expectations of 2.9%. This marked the largest growth in four months as deflation in food and non-alcoholic beverages eased (-1.2% vs -2.3% in February). At the same time, costs increased for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (5.9% vs 4.3%), health (7.3% vs 6.3%), information and communication (1.3% vs 1.1%), and recreation and culture (8.6% vs 8.5%). Prices also recovered for transportation (2.7% vs -0.2%) and declined less for furnishings and household equipment (-0.1% vs -0.3%). Meanwhile, price growth eased for insurance and financial services (7.4% vs 7.6%), education (2% vs 2.2%), clothing and footwear (1.4% vs 1.5%), and housing utilities (8.9% vs 9.1%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices stood at 0.5% in March, unchanged from the preceding period.

The annual inflation rate in Serbia edged up to 2.5% in February 2026, from 2.4% in January, which had marked the lowest reading since March 2021, as the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia introduced changes to the CPI methodology, including the adoption of the COICOP classification. Consumer prices continued to decline for food and non-alcoholic beverages (-2.3% vs. -1.0% in January), while prices for transport also fell (-0.2% vs. -0.4%). Meanwhile, inflation eased for alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and narcotics (4.3% vs. 6.3%) and remained unchanged for communication (1.1% vs. 1.1%). On the other hand, price pressures strengthened for health (6.3% vs. 5.7%) and housing and utilities (9.1% vs. 8.5%). On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 0.5% in February.

The annual inflation rate in Serbia slowed to 2.4% in January 2026, compared to market expectations and the prior month's 2.7%. This marked the lowest reading since March 2021, with the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia starting to use the new International Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP) version 2 (COICOP2018) in the calculation of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the internationally comparable Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP). Consumer deflation continued for food and non-alcoholic beverages (-1% vs -0.9% in December), and prices slipped for transport (-0.4% vs 1.9%). Moreover, costs moderated for information and communication (1.1% vs 2.3%), health (5.7% vs 5.9%), and alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and narcotics (6.3% vs 6.4%). In contrast, prices increased at a faster pace for housing and utilities (8.5% vs 7.5%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged up to 0.3% from 0.1% in December 2025, matching market expectations.