Slovakia Inflation Rate Slows to 6-Month Low

Slovakia's annual inflation rate eased to 3.7% in February 2026, following a four-month high of 4.0% in the previous month. Price growth moderated for food and non-alcoholic beverages (2.7% vs 3.9% in January), housing and utilities (6.0% vs 6.1%), furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance (0.9% vs 1.1%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (2.6% vs 3.2%), clothing and footwear (1.8% vs 2.7%), insurance and financial services (6.3% vs 6.5%), and miscellaneous goods and services (3.5% vs 4.4%). Conversely, costs continued to increase for health (4.7% vs 4.6%), information and communication (1.0% vs 0.5%), recreation and culture (6.0% vs 5.9%), and education (6.9% vs 6.7%), while prices remained steady for restaurants and hotels (7.1%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.1%, easing from a three-year high of 1.8% in January. Meanwhile, core inflation, which excludes goods with regulated prices, slowed to 2.4% in February from 2.9% in the previous month.

Slovakia's annual inflation rate edged up to 4% in January 2026 from 3.8% in December, matching market expectations. It marked the highest reading since September 2025, driven primarily by a sharp acceleration in housing and utilities prices (6.1% vs 2.8% in December) amid regulatory measures, particularly significant increases in thermal energy prices (25%) and gas (6.7%). Overall inflation was also supported by higher costs for food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.9% vs 2.8%), particularly food prices (3%), as eight out of nine food categories recorded annual price growth exceeding 4%. In contrast, prices declined for transport (-1.8% vs 1.7%), mainly due to an over 8% drop in fuel costs and lower air transport fares. On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 1.8% in January, rebounding from a 0.3% fall in the prior month and exceeding market expectations of 1.6%. Meanwhile, core inflation, which excludes regulated prices, eased slightly to 2.9% from 3% in December 2025.

Slovakia's annual inflation rate edged up to 3.8% in December 2025, following a 3.7% rise in each of the previous two months, slightly below market expectations of 3.9%.Prices rose faster for food and non-alcoholic beverages (2.8% vs 0.9% in November) and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (2.7% vs 2.4%), while costs were steady for communication (4.3%) and education (8.8% vs 8.9%). Conversely, inflation moderated for housing and utilities (2.8% vs 2.9%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (5.6% vs 5.8%), clothing and footwear (2.2% vs 2.3%), health (2.8% vs 3.1%), transport (1.7% vs 4.4%), recreation and culture (4.1% vs 5.4%), restaurants and hotels (8.9% vs 9.0%), and miscellaneous goods and services (6.3% vs 7.1%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.3% in December, reversing a 0.3% rise in the prior month. Meanwhile, core inflation, which excludes goods with regulated prices, edged up to 3.0% from a seven-month low of 2.9% in November.