Inflation in Albania rose to 3.2% in August 2026, marking a significant acceleration compared with the same month last year, when the rate stood at 2.3%. Compared with July, consumer prices increased by 0.1%.
Data from INSTAT show that the annual increase in prices was driven primarily by food and non-alcoholic beverages, transport, and the category that includes rent, water, electricity, gas and other fuels. These three categories alone were the main contributors to the rise in inflation during the month.
Among the main consumer groups, transport recorded the highest annual increase, at 12%. It was followed by recreation, sport and culture at 5.4%, insurance and financial services at 4.6%, and rent, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 3.7%.
On a monthly basis, transport was also the main factor pushing prices higher. Compared with July 2026, prices in this group increased by 3.9%, while restaurants and accommodation services became 0.2% more expensive, and the group covering rent, water, electricity, gas and other fuels rose by 0.1%.
Although the increase in food prices was not the highest among consumer groups, their weight in the consumer basket means they have a strong impact on overall inflation.
In August, food and non-alcoholic beverages contributed 0.95 percentage points to the annual increase in prices. Transport contributed 0.79 percentage points, while rent, water, electricity, gas and other fuels contributed 0.76 percentage points.
On an annual basis, prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 2.8%, while the housing and energy-related group rose by 3.7%.
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