13.02.202609:34:32UTC+00Bulgaria Inflation Cools to 9-Month Low

Bulgaria’s annual inflation rate eased to 3.6% in January 2026, the lowest level in nine months, down from 5.0% in December, according to flash estimates. The slowdown was driven primarily by weaker price growth for food and non-alcoholic beverages (4.0% vs 5.5% in December), housing and utilities (3.7% vs 7.8%), recreation, sport and culture (16.2% vs 17.1%), and restaurant and accommodation services (9.2% vs 9.9%). Transport costs fell (-1.6% vs 0.3%), as did prices in health (-4.1% vs -3.6%) and information and communication (-2.2% vs 0.2%). In contrast, prices accelerated for furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance (1.4% vs 1.1%) and for personal care, social protection, and miscellaneous goods and services (6.4% vs 5.4%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.7% in January, after a 0.1% increase in December.