Prices in Bulgaria fell 0.2% in September from August, but were 5.7% higher than a year earlier, according to the consumer price index (CPI), the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said.

In August, annual inflation was 5.1% and monthly inflation was 0.6%.

The final figures differ slightly from the NSI's flash estimate, which showed a monthly drop of 0.3% and annual inflation of 5.6%.

Recreation, sport and culture got cheaper by the most, down 10.2% on the month. Restaurants and hotels fell 1.1%, while home furnishings, household goods and home maintenance dropped 0.5%.

Transport rose 3.7% and education services 3.2%. Alcohol and tobacco cost 1.1% more, clothing and footwear 0.9% more, and food and non-alcoholic drinks 0.7% more.

Insurance and financial services went up 0.5%. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, and information and communication, each rose 0.4%. Personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services went up 0.2%, while health prices did not change.

Since the start of the year, prices have risen 4.2% from December 2025. Average annual inflation, which compares the last 12 months with the previous 12, is 5.1%.

Over three years, since September 2023, prices have risen 12.9%, and over five years, since September 2021, by 42.4%.

The harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) was unchanged from August. Annual inflation by this measure is 5.6%, inflation since the start of the year is 4.9%, and average annual inflation is 4.2%.