The annual inflation rate in Austria rose to 3.2% in August 2026, up from a five-month low of 2.8% in July, in line with preliminary estimates. The acceleration was mainly driven by higher prices in transportation (7.8% vs. 6.4% in July), housing and utilities (3.3% vs. 2.8%), and recreation, sport, and culture (2.5% vs. 1.9%).
Within transportation, fuel prices surged 26.3%, a marked increase from 17.6% in July, while heating oil prices jumped 48.1% following a 26.9% rise in the previous month. Inflation also picked up slightly in restaurants and accommodation services (4.7% vs. 4.6%).
By contrast, food and non-alcoholic beverages remained cheaper than a year earlier, with prices declining 0.3%, although the drop was smaller than the 0.4% decrease recorded in July. Meanwhile, core inflation inched up to 3.0% from 2.9% in the prior month.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 0.6% in August after being flat in July. The annual harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) also rose, reaching 2.9% compared with 2.7% in the previous period.
