site.btaBulgaria Posts Zero Monthly Inflation in May, Annual Rate at 6.9%

In May 2026, Bulgaria's monthly inflation rate, measured by the consumer price index (CPI), was 0.0%, while the annual inflation rate was 6.9%, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said on Monday. The inflation rate since the beginning of the year (May 2026 compared to December 2025) was 3.8%. The annual average inflation rate for the period June 2025 - May 2026 compared to the period June 2024 - May 2025 was 5.0%.

According to NSI’s flash estimate, monthly inflation in May 2026 was expected to reach 0.2%, while annual inflation was projected at 7.0%.

In April 2026, monthly inflation stood at 1.8%, while annual inflation was 6.8%. According to the institute’s preliminary flash estimate for the month, monthly inflation had been expected at 2.0% and annual inflation at 7.1%.

The accumulated inflation, measured by CPI, for the last three years (May 2026 compared to May 2023) was 13.4%, while over the last five years (May 2026 compared with May 2021) was 44.3%.

According to CPI, prices of goods and services in May 2026 increased in the following groups: restaurants and accommodation services, by 0.9%; alcoholic beverages and tobacco, by 0.9%; transport, by 0.8%, information and communication, by 0.7%; health, by 0.5%; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, by 0.2%; furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, by 0.2%; and clothing and footwear, by 0.1%. Prices decreased in the following groups: recreation, sport and culture, by -2.0%; food and non-alcoholic beverages, by -0.4%; and personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services, by -0.1%. Prices of goods and services in the education and insurance and financial services groups remained unchanged.

In May 2026, the monthly rate, measured by the Price Index of a Small Basket, was -0.5%, while the annual rate was 3.9% compared with May 2025. Compared with the previous month, prices of goods and services in the small basket for the 20% of households with the lowest income changed as follows: services increased by 0.1%; food products decreased by 0.8%; and non-food products decreased by 0.5%.