Belgium’s annual inflation rate rose to 1.65% in March 2026, up from 1.45% in February. Despite this increase, energy prices declined by 4.41%, though the drop was less steep than the 7.89% decrease recorded a month earlier. Deflation in natural gas prices also moderated (-14.1% versus -14.7%), while motor fuel prices climbed by 11.9%.
The overall rise in inflation was mainly driven by stronger price growth in transport, where inflation accelerated to 5.0% from 1.6%. Additional upward pressure came from clothing and footwear (3.3% versus 1.0%), recreation and culture (5.3% versus 4.5%), and health (6.6% versus 6.5%).
These increases were partly offset by falling prices in housing and utilities (-3.0% versus -2.2%) and food (-0.9% versus a 0.7% increase previously). Inflation also eased in restaurants and hotels (4.3% versus 5.0%), and remained unchanged in furnishings (0.0%) and education (2.4%).
On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.12% in March, slowing from a 0.54% increase in February.
