BRUSSELS / RankWire.AI / – Euro area annual inflation climbed to an estimated 3.3% in August 2026, up from 2.9% in July. The month saw a significant surge in energy prices. Eurostat issued the preliminary estimate on Sept. 1. Inflation had been at 2.8% in June and 2.0% in August 2025. Consumer prices rose by 0.4% from July, according to the harmonised index of consumer prices.
Among the main components, energy registered the highest annual increase at 14.3%, a jump from 10.3% in July. On a monthly basis, energy prices also grew by 2.9%. The inflation rate for services slowed to 3.0% from 3.3% in July. Non-energy industrial goods inflation increased to 1.2% from 0.9%. Food, alcohol, and tobacco inflation remained steady at 1.2%, unchanged from the previous month.
Adjusted measures that exclude certain categories showed smaller fluctuations in August. Inflation excluding energy was stable at 2.2%, the same as in July. The rate excluding energy, food, alcohol, and tobacco decreased slightly to 2.4% from 2.5%. Inflation excluding energy and unprocessed food declined to 2.1% from 2.2%. These measures track consumer price changes after removing specific components from the overall inflation calculation.
Energy inflation accelerates while services inflation slows
In August, inflation across the euro area’s 21 member states showed considerable variation. Lithuania recorded the highest estimate at 5.8%, with Cyprus at 5.2% and Bulgaria at 5.1%. Spain’s inflation was 4.5%, Belgium at 4.2%, and Luxembourg at 4.0%. At the lower end, Estonia had 1.3%, Malta 1.9%, and Finland 2.4%. Germany reported 2.9%, France was at 2.7%, and Italy stood at 3.2%.
Monthly price changes also differed among nations. Belgium experienced a 2.1% increase, while Luxembourg saw a 1.8% rise, and Cyprus increased by 1.5%. France and Bulgaria each had a 0.8% increase from July. Ireland, Spain, and Malta each saw a 0.6% rise. Finland experienced a 0.4% monthly decline, and Slovakia saw no change. Germany’s prices increased by 0.2%, and Italy’s rose by 0.1%.
European Union expands to 21 countries with Bulgaria’s accession
Bulgaria’s integration into the euro area on Jan. 1, 2026, increased the membership to 21 countries. Data through December 2025 reflect the previous composition of 20 member states. Starting January 2026, figures include the full expanded group. The European Union’s statistical system applies a chain-index method when the euro area’s membership changes, which means the August flash estimate accounts for the current 21-member configuration of the single currency zone.
These August figures are preliminary, with comprehensive harmonised consumer-price data scheduled for release on Sept. 17, 2026. The next flash estimate, covering September inflation, will be published on Oct. 2. The harmonised index tracks price changes paid by households for goods and services. Annual inflation compares prices with the same month in the previous year, while monthly inflation indicates changes from the immediately preceding month.