Stats: Average EU-harmonised Inflation Slows Down to 3% Y-o-Y in September

Bratislava, 16 October (TASR) - Year-on-year (y-o-y) inflation measured by the EU's Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) stood at 3 percent in September 2026, making it the lowest level since September 2024, when it amounted to 2.9 percent, the Statistics Office reported on Friday. In a monthly comparison, consumer prices measured by HICP rose by 0.1 percent. The average annual rate of harmonised inflation for the period between October 2025 and September 2026 fell to 3.7 percent compared with the period between October 2024 and September 2025. Year-on-year, prices were higher in 12 out of 13 sectors, ranging from 0.7 percent in clothing and footwear to 9.6 percent in housing including energy. Y-o-y harmonised inflation was dampened solely by a 3.2 percent fall in prices in food and non-alcoholic beverages. Concerning monthly developments, prices grew in eight of the 13 monitored segments, with increases ranging from 0.2 percent in housing including energy up to 2.1 percent in the segments of transport and education. Prices for insurance and financial services remained unchanged compared with the previous month. Conversely, prices fell in four segments, with drops ranging between 0.1 percent in the segment of health care up to 1.1 percent in recreation, sport and culture. ko