An increase in inflation to 3.8% year-on-year is recorded by ELSTAT data for August. At the same time, the General CPI compared with July 2026 showed an increase of 0.4%, against an increase of 0.1%, recorded in the corresponding comparison of the previous year.
The average CPI of the twelve-month period September 2025 – August 2026, compared with the corresponding Index of the twelve-month period September 2024 - August 2025, showed an increase of 3.4%, against an increase of 2.6% recorded in the corresponding comparison of the twelve-month period September 2024 - August 2025 with the twelve-month period September 2023 - August 2024.
ELSTAT data record an increase of 11.5% in prices for lamb and goat meat, as well as for fish. A 15% drop is recorded in olive oil.
Natural gas has skyrocketed with increases of 40.2%, diesel fuel is 30.6% more expensive, while gasoline is 15.3%.
Rents increased by 6.2%.
The increase in the General CPI
The increase in the General CPI by 3.8% in the month of August 2026, compared with the corresponding Index of August 2025, resulted mainly from changes in the following groups of goods and services:
- From increases in the indices by:
0.9% in the Food and non-alcoholic beverages group, due mainly to increases in prices for: bread and other bakery products, beef, pork, lamb and goat meat, poultry, fresh or frozen fish, salted fish, cheeses, eggs, other edible oils, margarine and other vegetable fats. Part of this increase was offset by the decrease mainly in prices for: olive oil, fruit (in general), vegetables (in general), ice cream, prepared foods.
5.3% in the group Clothing and footwear, due to an increase in prices for clothing and footwear items.
9.7% in the Housing group, due mainly to increases in prices for: housing rents, home repair and maintenance, various services related to the home, natural gas, heating oil, solid fuels. Part of this increase was offset by the decrease mainly in electricity prices.
0.3% in the group Durable goods - Household items and services, due mainly to increases in prices for: other household use items, domestic services. Part of this increase was offset by the decrease mainly in prices for: household textiles, household appliances and repairs.
1.3% in the Health group, due mainly to increases in prices for: medical products, outpatient care services, hospital care. Part of this increase was offset by the decrease mainly in prices for pharmaceutical products.
7.7% in the Transport group, due mainly to increases in prices for: diesel fuel, motor fuels (gasoline), maintenance and repair of personal transport equipment, other services related to personal transport, passenger transport tickets by airplane. Part of this increase was offset by the decrease mainly in prices for used cars.
1.2% in the Recreation - Sports and Culture group, due mainly to increases in prices for: gardening products and pets, cultural services, package holidays. Part of this increase was offset by the decrease mainly in prices for durable recreation goods.
2.8% in the Education group, due mainly to increases in prices for: preschool and primary education tuition fees, secondary education tuition fees.
6.0% in the Hotels - Cafés - Restaurants group, due mainly to increases in prices for: restaurants-confectioneries-fast food outlets-canteens, hotels-motels-inns.
3.4% in the group Insurance and financial services, due mainly to increases in prices for: health insurance premiums, vehicle insurance premiums.
0.7% in the Personal care - Social protection - Other goods and services group, due mainly to increases in prices for: hairdressers and personal care shops, other services. Part of this increase was offset by the decrease mainly in prices for: other appliances and products for personal hygiene and care, transport, travel and other personal items.
- From decreases in the indices by:
0.6% in the group Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, due mainly to a decrease in prices for alcoholic beverages (not served).
2.6% in the Information and communication group, due mainly to decreases in prices for: mobile telephony services, telephone service packages.
* See details in the Accompanying Material column