The annual inflation rate accelerated to 3.4% year-on-year in March 2026, up from 2.3% in February, reaching its highest level since December 2025. The rise was largely driven by a sharp rebound in transport costs (7.3% vs -1.7% in February), mainly reflecting higher fuel prices (18.5%), with diesel surging 24.1%, gasoline increasing 7.5%, and LPG up 4.3%.
Inflation also strengthened in several categories: alcoholic beverages and tobacco (0.9% vs 0.6%), recreation, sports, and culture (3.4% vs 1.4%), and furnishings, household maintenance, and equipment (1.5% vs 0.9%). Healthcare costs were stable at a relatively high 4.1%.
By contrast, price growth eased in food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.1% vs 2.4%), clothing and footwear (2.1% vs 2.9%), housing and utilities (4.8% vs 5.3%), information and communication (1.4% vs 2.5%), education (4.6% vs 5.1%), and restaurants and hotels (4.2% vs 4.4%).
On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 1.9% in February, sharply higher than the 0.2% increase recorded in the previous month.
