Albania’s annual inflation rate rose to 3.4% in October 2026, up from 2.9% in September and marking the highest level since July. The increase was largely driven by a sharp acceleration in prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages (4.0% vs 2.8%) and for recreation and culture (7.4% vs 5.9%).
Inflation also firmed in several other categories: personal care and miscellaneous goods and services (2.3% vs 1.8%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (2.7% vs 2.5%), furnishings and household equipment (2.4% vs 2.3%), housing and utilities (2.8% vs 2.7%), and education (1.6% vs 1.5%).
By contrast, inflation eased for transport (11.4% vs 12.4%), insurance and financial services (4.4% vs 4.5%), and restaurants and hotels (2.0% vs 2.1%), while health costs were unchanged at 1.7%. Deflation in clothing and footwear moderated (-2.6% vs -3.1%), and prices in information and communication continued to fall at the same rate as in September (-1.1%).
On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.5% in October, following a 0.4% increase in September.
