Preliminary data released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, indicated that annual inflation in Bulgaria reached 6.2% in April 2026, marking the highest rate among Euro area countries. Conversely, Bulgaria’s National Statistical Institute (NSI) reported a flash estimate showing monthly inflation at 2.0% and an annual rate of 7.1% for the same period. Overall, Eurozone inflation is projected to rise for the fourth consecutive month, reaching 3.0% in April, up from 2.6% in March.
Among the member states, Lithuania (4.9%), Greece (4.6%), Belgium (4.3%), and Slovakia (4.0%) recorded the highest annual inflation rates following Bulgaria’s accession on January 1, 2026. Conversely, Finland (2.3%), Malta (2.4%), and the Netherlands and France (all at 2.5%) reported the lowest figures. Key components driving the Euro area’s inflation are expected to show significant increases.
Energy is anticipated to post the highest annual rise in April at 10.9%, compared to 5.1% in March. Service prices are also projected to increase, though the rate is expected to moderate slightly to 3.0% from 3.2% in March. Food, alcohol, and tobacco saw a minor increase to 2.5% from 2.4%, while non-energy industrial goods rose to 0.8% from 0.7%.
These flash estimates provide early insight into price dynamics, allowing for direct comparison across the 20 Euro area nations following the monetary union integration. Eurostat’s figures utilize the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, while the NSI data is based on the Consumer Price Index.
Topics: #inflation #annual #april
