As of July 17, 2026, Bulgaria remains among the countries with the highest inflation in the eurozone, despite a clear decline in annual price growth. According to the latest official data for June 2026, annual inflation according to the national consumer price index (CPI) in our country fell to about "5.4–5.6%", and according to the harmonized index (HICP), which is used for comparison in the EU, annual inflation is about "5.2–5.3%".
Statistics show that in June, monthly inflation according to the CPI was "–0.8%", and the annual rate was "5.6%", according to the flash estimate, while according to the HICP, the monthly change was "–0.4%", and the annual inflation was "5.3%". This means that prices are actually starting to cool compared to May, when the CPI showed about "6.9%" annual inflation, and the HICP – approximately "6.3%".
Despite this decline, Bulgaria continues to be among the leaders in price increases in the eurozone. The average annual inflation in the eurozone in June 2026 was about "2.8%", compared to "3.2%" in May. Against this backdrop, the harmonized inflation of "5.3%" in our country is approximately "2.5 percentage points above the average" for the eurozone and about "3.3 percentage points above the European Central Bank's target" of 2%.
Published rankings place Bulgaria in "second place" for annual inflation among eurozone countries – immediately after Lithuania, where prices are rising by about "5.5%", and ahead of Croatia with approximately "4.2%". In a broader European context, including countries outside the eurozone, Bulgaria is in third position for price increases after Romania and Lithuania.
The contrast with countries with the lowest inflation is tangible. In the eurozone and the EU, the lowest price increases in June 2026 were recorded by Malta (about "1.9%"), France and Estonia (close to "2.0%" each), as well as Germany (about "2.4%"). These economies are below the average level of "2.8%" in the eurozone, while Bulgaria, Lithuania, Croatia, and Cyprus form the "upper segment" of the inflation table with noticeably higher price growth.
Structurally speaking, the general European picture shows that inflation in the eurozone in June 2026 is driven primarily by energy (about "8.7%"), services (about "3.2%"), food, alcohol, and tobacco (about "1.6%"), and industrial goods excluding energy (about "0.9%"). Bulgaria falls precisely among the countries where price increases are above average in all these components – especially in services, transport, and some utility costs, which explains why, despite the general decline, it remains among the inflation leaders.
However, the decline in Bulgaria is real and distinct. In just one month – from May to June 2026 – the annual HICP inflation fell from approximately "6.3%" to about "5.3%", and the CPI – from about "6.9%" to "5.4–5.6%". Analyses indicate that Bulgaria is among the states where prices are decreasing the most on a monthly basis (about "–0.4%"), ranking alongside Belgium, Estonia, and Luxembourg in terms of cooling.
The start of 2026 was significantly more tense: in May, Bulgaria was the "most inflationary" country in the eurozone with an annual HICP of about "6.3%", ahead of Lithuania and Croatia. Since January 1, 2026, the country has officially been part of the eurozone, which means that inflation indicators are directly compared with other members and are key to assessing price stability.
Against the backdrop of this regional context, inflation in our country of about "5.2–5.3%" is perceived as "cooled, but still high". For households, this means that even though the pace of price increases is slowing down, the real pressure on the budget remains significant – especially for services, restaurants, education, and some utility costs. Compared to countries like Germany, France, or Finland, where inflation is close to "2–2.7%", Bulgarian consumers continue to pay a higher "inflationary price".
In summary, as of July 17, 2026, Bulgaria is in a specific position: the country is now part of the eurozone and, in the medium term, continues to meet the price criterion for the euro, but the current annual price growth of about "5.2–5.3%" places it second for inflation in the currency union. The positive news is the clearly defined downward trend and the strong monthly cooling in June; the challenge remains the need for this process to continue so that Bulgaria can move closer to average European levels and ensure greater predictability for businesses and households within the common currency.