An increase of 2.3% was recorded in food and non-alcoholic beverages
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Annual Inflation Ticks up to 2.3% in Jan

Economy Thursday, February 26, 2026

Albania's annual inflation measured by the EU-harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) accelerated to 2.3% in January, from 2.2% in December, the statistical office, INSTAT, said on Wednesday.

The January HICP change reflects increases in recreation and culture prices (+9.8%), followed by personal care, social protection, and different goods and services (+3.7%); and alcoholic beverages and tobacco, and insurance and financial activities, with a 3.1% increase in the prices of each, INSTAT said in a statement.

An increase of 2.3% was recorded in “Food and non-alcoholic beverages”, while educational services increased by 2.2%. Higher prices were also recorded in furniture and home maintenance, as well as in restaurants and accommodation by 2.0% each, in health by 1.1%, in clothing and footwear by 0.9%, in rent and energy by 0.7%, and in information and communication by 0.6%. Meanwhile, the only group that recorded a decrease was transport, with -0.7% in annual terms.

On a monthly comparison basis, Albania's HICP ticked up 0.6% in January, the same rate of increase as in December.

Albania's inflation averaged 2.3% in 2025, slowing down from an average of 2.6% in the previous year, INSTAT said last month.

INSTAT announces that starting from February 2026, the inflation index will be calculated according to the new ECOICOP 2018 classification, in accordance with the European Union regulation, which includes updating the weights, revising the consumer basket with 410 products, and changing the base year to 2025=100.

The Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) measures the change in the level of retail prices of goods and services from the point of view of the structure of expenditures that consumers (domestic and foreign) intend for final consumption in the territory of Albania.

The HICP is used to monitor the movement of retail prices in European countries, comparing the inflation rate between European countries and as the official inflation of the European Central Bank, ensuring price stability in the Economic and Monetary Union.