Slovakia Inflation Rate Slightly Eases in May

Slovakia's annual inflation rate edged down to 3.8% in May 2026 from a three-month high of 3.9% in the previous month. Prices increased at a slower pace for food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.3% vs 1.0% in April), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (3.7% vs 4.8%), clothing and footwear (0.6% vs 0.7%), furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (0.7% vs 1.5%), health (4.5% vs 4.9%), education (6.1% vs 6.2%), restaurants and hotels (5.2% vs 5.5%), and insurance and financial services (5.1% vs 6.1%). On the other hand, costs accelerated for housing and utilities (6.7% vs 6.3%), transport (9.4% vs 7.2%), recreation and culture (4.8% vs 4.7%), and personal care, social protection, and miscellaneous goods and services (3.2% vs 3.1%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices eased slightly to 0.4% from 0.5% in April. Meanwhile, core inflation, excluding regulated prices, ticked down to 2.3% in May, from 2.4% in the previous month.

Slovakia’s annual inflation rate rose to 3.9% in April 2026 from 3.5% in March, slightly above market expectations of 3.8%. It marked the highest reading since January 2026, driven mainly by a sharp acceleration in housing and utilities, which rose 6.3% amid regulatory adjustments, particularly higher heating energy prices (27.8%) and gas (6.7%). Additionally, transport costs climbed to an over three-year high of 7.2% from 2.1% in March, supported by a 15.3% surge in motor fuel prices. Inflation also persisted in alcoholic beverages and tobacco (4.8% vs 3.0%), information and communication (1.8% vs 0.9%), and miscellaneous goods and services (3.1% vs 2.9%). In contrast, food and non-alcoholic beverages eased (1.0% vs 1.3%), with declines in meat (-3.7%), milk, cheese and eggs (-0.3%), and oils and fats (-5.4%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.5% from 0.1% in each of the previous two months. Meanwhile, core inflation, excluding regulated prices, increased to 2.4% from 1.9%.

Slovakia’s annual inflation rate eased to 3.5% in March 2026 from 3.7% in the previous month, slightly above market expectations of 3.4%. This marked the lowest reading since December 2024, driven largely by lower prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.3% vs 2.7% in February), non-alcoholic beverages and tobacco (7.9% vs 10.6%), clothing and footwear (1.2% vs 1.8%), information and communication (0.9% vs 1%), recreation and culture (4.9% vs 6%), education (6.2% vs 6.9%), restaurants and hotels (5.8% vs 7.1%), and miscellaneous goods and services (2.9% vs 3.5%). On the other hand, costs increased for housing and utilities (6.3% vs 6%), health (4.8% vs 4.7%), and insurance and financial services (6.4% vs 6.3%), while prices recovered for transportation (2.1% vs -0.9%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices stood at 0.1%, unchanged from the previous month. Meanwhile, core inflation, which excludes goods with regulated prices, slowed to 1.9% from 2.4% in February.