The monthly inflation rate was 0.9%, while the annual inflation rate was 4.1%. The inflation rate is measured by the CPI, with monthly inflation referring to March 2026 compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation is for March 2026 compared to the same month of the previous year.
In March 2026, compared to the previous month, the increase was registered in the following groups: ‘Transport’ (7.2%), ‘Alcoholic beverages, tobacco’ (0.8%) and ‘Information and communication’ (0.8%). The decrease in the prices was recorded in the following groups: ‘Recreation, sport and culture’ (-2.0%), ‘Clothing and footwear’ (-0.9%) and ‘Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance’ (-0.2%).
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
In March 2026, the monthly inflation rate, measured by CPI, was 0.9% and the annual inflation rate in March 2026, compared to March 2025, was 4.1%. The inflation rate since the beginning of the year (March 2026 compared to December 2025) was 1.9%[1].
The annual average inflation rate for the period April 2025 - March 2026 compared to the period April 2024 - March 2025 was 4.5%.
Monthly inflation
In terms of CPI, in March 2026, the prices of goods and services increased in the following consumer groups:
The prices of goods and services decreased in the following consumer groups:
The prices of the services in a group ‘Insurance and financial services’ remained unchanged.
Accumulated inflation
The accumulated inflation, measured by CPI, for the last three years (March 2026 compared to March 2023) was 11.5% and for the last five years (March 2026 compared to March 2021) was 42.9%.
Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP)
In March 2026, the monthly inflation rate, measured by HICP, was 1.0% and the annual inflation rate in March 2026 compared to March 2025 was 2.8%. The inflation rate since the beginning of the year (March 2026 compared to December 2025) was 1.9%[2].
The annual average inflation rate for the period April 2025 - March 2026 compared to the period April 2024 - March 2025 was 3.2%.
Monthly inflation
In terms of HICP, in March 2026, the prices of goods and services increased in the following consumer groups:
The prices of goods and services decreased in the following consumer group:
The prices of the goods and services in following groups ‘Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance’ and ‘Insurance and financial services’ remained unchanged.
Accumulated inflation
The accumulated inflation, measured by HICP, for the last three years (March 2026 compared to March 2023) was 10.2% and for the last five years (March 2026 compared to March 2021) was 36.5%.
Price Index of a Small Basket (PISB)
In March 2026, the monthly rate, measured by PISB, was 0.3% and the annual rate in March 2026, compared to March 2025, was 2.7%[3].
In March 2026, compared to the previous month, the prices of goods and services in the small basket for the 20% of households with the lowest income changed as follows:
The prices of goods in ‘Non-food products’ remained unchanged.
Methodological notes
In compliance with Regulation (EC) No. 2024/3159 since January 2026 NSI applies new European Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose version 2, aligned with the United Nations UN COICOP 2018 classification for CPI, HICP and PISB.
In compliance with Implementing Regulation (EC) No. 2025/1182 since January 2026 the base year for CPI, HICP and PISB has been changed and the all indices have been calculated and published at 2025 as a base year (www.nsi.bg).
In compliance with Regulation (EC) No. 2024/3159 since January 2026 Games of chance has been included in the CPI and HICP as part of Recreation services under the division of Recreation, sport and culture.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is the official measure of inflation in the Republic of Bulgaria. It measures the total relative price change of goods and services used by households for private (non-production) consumption. It is calculated by applying the structure of Bulgarian households’ final monetary consumption expenditures. The main source of information for the expenditures is the household budget survey in the country. The CPI in year t is calculated with the expenditures’ structure of year t - 1.
The Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) is the comparable measure of inflation across EU Member States. It is one of the criteria for price stability and the readiness of Bulgaria to join the Eurozone. HICP, as well as CPI, measures the total relative price change of goods and services. Both indices are calculated using the same basket of goods and services but differ with concern to the weights used. HICP is calculated using weights, which reflect the individual and collective consumption of all households (incl. institutional and foreign households) in the country’s economic territory. The main source of information for HICP weights is the national accounts (NA) data. For calculating the HICP in 2026, NA data for households’ final monetary consumption expenditures (HFMCE) - domestic concept in 2024 is used. NA 2024 data are reviewed and updated to make them representative of 2025.
The Price Index of a Small Basket (PISB) measures the relative average price changes of 100 socially useful and vital living goods and services. The weights of this index reflect the expenditures of the 20% lowest households’ incomes. The source of the information on weights is the Households Budget Survey in the country. This index in year t is calculated with the weights of year t - 1.
The chain consumer price indices measure the price change in the current month compared to the previous month. The chain consumer price indices are used as a measure of monthly inflation.
The 12-month consumer price indices measure the price changes occurring between the current month and the same month of the previous year. The 12-month consumer price indices are used as a measure of annual inflation.
Consumer price indices over December of the previous year measure the accumulated changes in prices of the current month concerning December of the previous year. Consumer price indices over December of the previous year are used as measures of inflation since the beginning of the year. In December of each year, the 12-month index is equal to the index over December of the previous year.
The annual average consumer price indices measure the average price change during the 12 months of the current year compared to the average price change during the 12 months of the previous year. The annual average consumer price indices are used as a measure of the annual average inflation.
In relation to the membership of Bulgaria in the euro area from the 1st of January 2026, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) is obliged to produce and publish inflation flash estimate. This is valid for all country members of the euro area. The NSI publishes on its website an annotation for the inflation flash estimate, according to the Release Calendar of statistical information.
Statistical area: Inflation and Consumer Price Indices:
Inflation and Consumer Price Indices|National Statistical Institute (nsi.bg)
IS Infostat: Consumer prices:
https://infostat.nsi.bg/infostat/pages/module.jsf?x_2=68
Metadata and Methodology:
Consumer Price Indices (CPI)|National Statistical Institute (nsi.bg)
Inflation Rate Calculator:
Inflation Rate Calculator|National Statistical Institute (nsi.bg)
Annex
Table 1
| Code | Commodity groups | March 2026 compared to February 2026 | March 2026 compared to December 2025 | March 2026 compared to March 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | ||
| 00 | Total CPI | 100.9 | 101.9 | 104.1 |
| 01 | Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 100.5 | 102.2 | 103.7 |
| 02 | Alcoholic beverages, tobacco | 100.8 | 102.2 | 106.7 |
| 03 | Clothing and footwear | 99.1 | 93.3 | 100.0 |
| 04 | Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | 100.7 | 101.7 | 104.1 |
| 05 | Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance | 99.8 | 99.9 | 100.1 |
| 06 | Health | 100.5 | 101.7 | 95.4 |
| 07 | Transport | 107.2 | 107.3 | 105.8 |
| 08 | Information and communication | 100.8 | 101.7 | 97.3 |
| 09 | Recreation, sport and culture | 98.0 | 99.6 | 116.8 |
| 10 | Education services | 100.1 | 101.1 | 108.5 |
| 11 | Restaurants and accommodation services | 100.7 | 103.2 | 109.0 |
| 12 | Insurance and financial services | 100.0 | 101.4 | 100.7 |
| 13 | Personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services | 100.7 | 102.8 | 105.7 |
| Foods | 100.5 | 102.1 | 103.7 | |
| Non-foods | 102.1 | 101.8 | 102.6 | |
| Catering | 100.6 | 103.1 | 110.2 | |
| Services | 100.0 | 101.6 | 105.1 |
Table 2
| Code | Commodity groups | March 2026 compared to February 2026 | March 2026 compared to December 2025 | March 2026 compared to March 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | ||
| 00 | Total HICP | 101.0 | 101.9 | 102.8 |
| 01 | Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 100.5 | 101.9 | 103.9 |
| 02 | Alcoholic beverages, tobacco | 100.7 | 102.0 | 106.3 |
| 03 | Clothing and footwear | 98.9 | 93.4 | 100.4 |
| 04 | Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | 100.6 | 101.6 | 104.2 |
| 05 | Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance | 100.0 | 100.5 | 101.0 |
| 06 | Health | 100.4 | 101.8 | 92.3 |
| 07 | Transport | 104.3 | 103.5 | 102.7 |
| 08 | Information and communication | 100.5 | 101.0 | 96.6 |
| 09 | Recreation, sport and culture | 101.1 | 102.6 | 110.8 |
| 10 | Education services | 100.1 | 101.1 | 108.5 |
| 11 | Restaurants and accommodation services | 101.0 | 103.5 | 106.4 |
| 12 | Insurance and financial services | 100.0 | 100.8 | 100.1 |
| 13 | Personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services | 100.5 | 104.2 | 105.3 |
Table 3
| Code | Commodity groups | March 2026 compared to February 2026 | March 2026 compared to March 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | ||
| 00 | Total PISB | 100.3 | 102.7 |
| 01 | Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 100.4 | 103.7 |
| 03 | Clothing and footwear | 98.6 | 97.7 |
| 04 | Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | 100.7 | 103.3 |
| 05 | Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance | 98.8 | 98.2 |
| 06 | Health | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| 07 | Transport | 99.9 | 100.6 |
| 08 | Information and communication | 100.0 | 100.9 |
| 09 | Recreation, sport and culture | 100.3 | 101.8 |
| 13 | Personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services | 100.5 | 101.2 |
| Foods | 100.4 | 103.7 | |
| Non-foods | 100.0 | 101.1 | |
| Services | 100.6 | 102.3 |
[1] According to the CPI methodology. For more information, see the Methodological notes and Annex, Table 1.
[2] According to the HICP methodology. For more information, see the Methodological notes and Annex, Table 2.
[3] For more information, see the Methodological notes and Annex, Table 3.
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