Croatia’s annual inflation rate climbed to 4.8% in March 2026, up from 3.8% in February, reaching its highest level since October 2023. Price growth accelerated in several key categories, including food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.3% vs 2.9% in February), housing and utilities (11.1% vs 10.2%), transport (7% vs 0.8%), and recreation and culture (4.4% vs 3.7%). According to reports, rising oil and petroleum prices are a major driver of these increased inflationary pressures.
Deflation moderated in furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance, where prices fell by 0.3% compared with a 1% decline in the previous month. By contrast, price growth decelerated for alcoholic beverages (7.5% vs 7.7%), restaurants and hotels (6% vs 6.3%), and health services (3.6% vs 3.8%). Inflation in the information and communication category stood at 3.2%, while clothing and footwear prices declined by 2.4% after remaining flat in February. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 1.4% in March, accelerating from a 0.3% increase in February.
