web counter
LEXO PA REKLAMA!

SHKARKO APP

App Store
Google Play

E fundit!

x

Inflation according to Eurostat: Prices in Albania increase by 3.3% in May, reaching the EU average

2026-06-17 14:53:00, Ekonomi CNA

Inflation according to Eurostat: Prices in Albania increase by 3.3% in May,

The Albanian economy is facing a new increase in inflationary pressures, driven mainly by the significant increase in the cost of entertainment activities and hotel and tourism services.

According to the latest data published by the Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) for May 2026, inflation measured according to the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) reached 3.3%.

This indicator shows a revival of price growth, rising to the highest level in recent months, after a relatively more stable period recorded throughout the past year. Also in monthly terms, consumer prices marked an increase of 0.2% compared to April, which confirms the short-term upward trend in costs for consumers.

If we compare Albania's performance with the continent, our country is now exactly at the same level as the European Union average, where harmonized inflation for the 27-country bloc was also calculated at 3.3% for May.

However, the European price map remains divided. Albania is positioned somewhere in the middle of this ranking, leaving behind countries with much higher inflation such as Romania, which tops the list with an annual price increase approaching the 10% mark, followed by Bulgaria and Lithuania.

On the other hand, much lighter inflationary pressures are being felt by the countries of Northern and Western Europe, with Sweden and Switzerland closing the list with an inflation rate that barely exceeds or remains below the 1% level.

A detailed analysis of the main consumer groups within the country shows that the main driver of the increase in the cost of living is no longer coming from basic goods, but from services and lifestyle. The most rapid annual growth was recorded in the group “Entertainment, sports and culture”, whose prices soared by 7.3%. This group was followed by “Alcoholic beverages and tobacco” with an increase of 4.8% and “Transport” with 4.2%.

The hotel and restaurant sector also reflected a significant increase in prices by 3.4%, while food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 3.3%, staying in line with the overall average. On the other hand, clothing, footwear and communication services showed greater stability, which increased by only 0.6% in annual terms.

However, when we analyze the specific weight that each group has in the family budget, food remains the main source of money coming out of citizens' pockets.

Due to their large weight in the harmonized index basket, food and non-alcoholic beverages had the largest impact on total inflation with 1.14 percentage points. Restaurant and accommodation services contributed with 0.50 percentage points, followed by entertainment and culture with 0.46 percentage points.

From a monthly perspective, entertainment and cultural activities led the inflation by 1.8% more than in April, while clothing and food experienced a slight decline, by 0.4% and 0.3% respectively, somewhat dampening the momentum of the monthly growth.

Unlike the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is the official national measure and covers only resident private households, the Harmonized Index (HICP) used for European comparisons includes within the territory both the expenditures of the collective population and those of foreign tourists, which makes this indicator quite sensitive to the dynamics of the tourist season that is about to begin./Monitor 





Lajmet e fundit nga