Bulgaria’s annual inflation rate was confirmed at 6.9% in May 2026, slightly below the preliminary estimate of 7.0% and marginally higher than the 6.8% recorded in April. This was the highest rate since August 2023.
Transport costs continued to show the most pronounced increase, surging 21.6% year-on-year, driven by higher fuel prices amid disruptions to global oil supplies resulting from the conflict in the Middle East.
Price growth also accelerated in several other categories: alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics (7.7% vs 7.4% in April), housing and utilities (5.2% vs 4.7%), and restaurants and accommodation services (9.4% vs 9.3%).
By contrast, inflation eased for recreation, sport and culture (15.7% vs 17.0%), food and non-alcoholic beverages (4.4% vs 5.3%), and furnishings and household maintenance (0.9% vs 1.2%). Prices for clothing and footwear declined by 0.4%, after remaining unchanged in April.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices were stable in May, following a 1.8% increase in April.
