Preliminary data from Eurostat indicates that annual inflation in Bulgaria reached 6.2% in April 2026, marking the highest rate among Euro area nations. Concurrently, inflation across the Eurozone is projected to rise for the fourth consecutive month, reaching 3.0% in April from 2.6% in March. Among the Euro area countries, which Bulgaria joined on January 1, 2026, the highest rates followed Bulgaria, recorded in Lithuania (4.9%) and Greece (4.6%).
Conversely, Finland (2.3%), Malta (2.4%), the Netherlands, and France all reported rates of 2.5%. Analyzing the primary components of inflation in the Euro area, energy is expected to see the largest annual increase in April at 10.9%, up from 5.1% in March. This is followed by services (3.0% versus 3.2% in March), food, alcohol and tobacco (2.5% versus 2.4%), and non-energy industrial goods (0.8% versus 0.7%).
Meanwhile, Bulgaria’s National Statistical Institute (NSI) reported its flash estimate for April 2026. The NSI data suggest that monthly inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), is expected to hit 2.0%, while the annual inflation rate stands at 7.1%. This flash estimate offers an early look at price dynamics, allowing direct comparison with the other 20 Euro area countries following Bulgaria’s accession to the monetary union.
It is noted that the NSI figures are based on CPI measurements, while Eurostat utilizes the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices.
Topics: #inflation #annual #april
