Preliminary data from Eurostat indicates that the annual inflation rate in Bulgaria reached 6.2% in April 2026, representing the highest rate among Euro area countries. Concurrently, overall Eurozone inflation is projected to increase for the fourth consecutive month, reaching 3.0% in April, up from 2.6% in March. Among the member states, the highest annual inflation rates following Bulgaria were reported in Lithuania (4.9%), Greece (4.6%), Belgium (4.3%), and Slovakia (4.0%).
Conversely, Finland (2.3%), Malta (2.4%), and the Netherlands and France (all at 2.5%) registered the lowest rates. Examining key components across the Euro area, energy is anticipated to show the largest annual increase in April at 10.9%, compared to 5.1% in March. Services inflation is projected at 3.0% (down from 3.2% in March), while food, alcohol, and tobacco increased to 2.5% from 2.4%.
Separately, Bulgaria’s National Statistical Institute (NSI) reported a flash estimate for April 2026, showing monthly inflation via the Consumer Price Index (CPI) at 2.0%, with the annual rate standing at 7.1%. These flash figures offer early insight into price movements, allowing direct comparison with the 20 Euro area nations following Bulgaria’s accession to the monetary union on January 1, 20
Topics: #inflation #annual #april
What factors are expected to drive inflation higher in the Eurozone for the fourth consecutive month?