Denmark’s annual inflation rate rose to 1.9% in May 2026, up from 1.4% in April, reaching its highest level since December. Transportation costs remained the primary driver of the increase (5.3% vs. 3.3% in April), mainly due to a sharp rise in petrol prices (20.4% vs. 14.6%). Additional upward pressure came from higher prices for housing and utilities (0.4% vs. 0%), information and communication (4.2% vs. 4.0%), and recreation, sport and culture (3.5% vs. 0.7%). There was also a strong rebound in prices for restaurants and hotels (4.9% vs. -0.9%).
In contrast, food prices declined (-0.3% vs. 2.7%), and inflation eased slightly for personal care and miscellaneous goods and services (1.9% vs. 2.1%). On a monthly basis, the consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.6%, following a 0.2% increase in April. Meanwhile, core inflation, which excludes energy and unprocessed food, accelerated to 2.1% in May, up from a thirteen-month low of 1.6% in April.
