The annual inflation rate in the Czech Republic accelerated to 1.9% in March 2026 from 1.4% in February, in line with preliminary estimates and reaching a three-month high. The main upward pressure came from transport costs (5.5% vs 3.3% in February), as prices of fuel and lubricants for personal transport equipment swung from an 8.4% decline in February to a 13.1% increase in March, making this category the largest contributor to overall inflation.
Inflation also strengthened in several other categories: housing and utilities (1.0% vs 0.8%), furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (1.7% vs 1.1%), information and communication (2.9% vs 2.4%), and recreation, sports and culture (2.5% vs 1.7%). In contrast, prices fell for food and non-alcoholic beverages (-1.1% vs +0.4%) and for clothing and footwear (-2.6% vs -2.3%).
On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.6% in March, reversing a 0.1% decline in February, driven mainly by higher transport and fuel costs.
