Bulgaria's consumer price inflation accelerated slightly less than estimated in May to the highest level in more than two-and-a-half years, the latest data from the National Statistical Institute showed on Monday.
The consumer price index, or CPI, climbed 6.9% year-over-year in May, faster than the 6.8% rise in April. In the flash estimate, the inflation rate was 7%. Further, this was the strongest inflation since August 2023 when prices surged 7.7%.
The rise in inflation was largely driven by a 21.6% jump in transportation costs.
Inflation based on housing and utilities accelerated to 5.2% from 4.7%. Meanwhile, the annual price growth in food and non-alcoholic beverages moderated to 4.4% from 5.3%.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices remained flat in May, revised from a 0.3% increase seen in the flash estimate.
The EU measure of inflation, the harmonized index of consumer prices, rose at a faster pace of 6.3% annually in May versus a 6% increase in April, as estimated. Moreover, this was the highest HICP inflation rate in thirty-two months.
