Prices for essential food items rose at a rate higher than the overall inflation rate during August 2026, according to INSTAT’s list of 45 basic consumer goods.

A comparison of INSTAT’s average price lists for August 2025 and August 2026 reveals that cucumbers saw the sharpest price increase among food items, rising by 23.5%, while the overall inflation rate stood at 3.2% in August 2026, local business news provider Monitor reported on Thursday.

The comparative data shows that at least 14 key consumer goods - including meat, dairy products, vegetables, and coffee - experienced price increases that outpaced the general rise in price levels.

Ground coffee saw the second-highest increase at 13%, reaching Lek 169.8 per 100 grams compared to the previous year. It is followed by fresh fish, which rose by 10.3%, with its average price reaching Lek 949.2 per kilogram.

Significant price increases were also recorded for eggs (8.3%), olive oil (7.2%), and olives (7.1%). The price growth for all these products was more than double the average inflation rate. Next on the list are beef, with an increase of 6.1% (reaching a price of 1,236.6 lek per kilogram), natural yogurt (5.7%), honey (4.6%), and tomatoes (4.2%).

Pork, with an increase of 3.7%, and potatoes, with 3.4%, also saw price hikes that outpaced the average inflation rate of 3.2%.

Fuel prices saw a sharp increase in August 2026 compared to the same month the previous year, driving up transport costs for both households and businesses. According to INSTAT data, diesel recorded the steepest rise - 24.4% - reaching Lek 215.3 per liter, up from Lek 173.1 in August 2025. This represents an increase of Lek 42.2 per liter over the course of a year.

Gas used as fuel rose by 16.5%, climbing from Lek 57.6 to Lek 67.1 per liter. Meanwhile, the price of gasoline increased by 15.9%, reaching Lek 200.6 per liter, compared to Lek 173.1 a year earlier.

Rising fuel prices have a direct impact on household transport expenditures and the operating costs of businesses. Given the role of transport within the supply chain, rising costs for diesel and gasoline can also filter through to the prices of other goods and services.

While some food products have become more expensive, certain everyday consumer items saw price decreases in August 2026 compared to the same month the previous year.

According to INSTAT data, canned fish saw the largest price drop at 16.5%, followed by sugar - which fell by 11.3%, from Lek 101.6 to Lek 90.1 per kilogram - and oranges, which decreased by 10.7%.

Other food products that experienced price declines include butter (4.8%), apples (4.3%), rice (3.7%), and pasta (3.1%).

More modest decreases were recorded for white cheese (2.3%), flour (1.2%), fresh milk (0.8%), and sunflower oil (0.7%). Meanwhile, the price of bread remained virtually unchanged, showing a slight decline of 0.1%. Outside the food category, price decreases were also recorded for beer (by 9.5%), carbonated soft drinks (by 3.5%), and fruit juices (by 0.6%).