The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), measured in line with Eurostat methodology, rose 2.6% year-on-year, according to a report published by the National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT).

On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased by 0.9% in March compared with February, driven mainly by key household spending categories.

Transport costs rose by 2.8% on the month, reflecting higher fuel prices, while food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 0.9%. Prices for restaurants and accommodation services climbed by 1.3%.

These categories account for a significant share of the consumer basket and have a direct impact on household budgets.

More moderate increases were recorded in housing-related costs – including rent, water, electricity, gas and other fuels – as well as in health and education services. By contrast, prices for furniture, household equipment and routine maintenance edged down by 0.2%.

On an annual basis, inflation continued to be driven primarily by food, energy and transport.

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According to INSTAT, the strongest upward push on annual inflation came from a 10.8% rise in prices in the culture and entertainment group, followed by food and non-alcoholic beverages with a 9.2% increase, and household goods and maintenance, with 6.2%, hotels, bars and restaurants with a 4.5 % growth and cloths and footwear with 4.3 %.

INSTAT said that the transport prices decreased by 7.1 % in July.

According to the INSTAT report, on the monthly basis, Albania’s harmonised index of consumer prices slightly decreased by 0.2% in July, mainly driven by the1.3% fall in the culture and entertainment group prices.

Eurozone inflation is measured on the basis of the HICP indicator. The term “harmonized” underlines the fact that all EU countries apply the same methodology in measuring the relevant indicator.

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