Change in consumer prices in the European Union, April 2025
Released: 23 May 2025
Harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP)
According to the harmonised index of consumer prices, ensuring the comparability of inflation in EU member countries, consumer prices were 2.4% higher on average in the European Union in April 2025 than in the same period of the previous year. Within the EU, inflation was highest in Romania (4.9%), Estonia (4.4%) and Hungary (4.2%). Looking at the other three Visegrád countries, the price rise (of 3.9% and 3.7%) in Slovakia and Poland, respectively, can also be considered relatively high, and that in Czechia was below the EU average, at 1.7%. The lowest inflation within the EU, at 0.9%, was measured for France.
Compared to the previous month, consumer prices were up by 0.5% in the EU as a whole and by 0.1% in Hungary. Out of Visegrád countries, there were small price rises (of 0.3% and 0.1%) in Poland and Slovakia, respectively, and the price level lessened by 0.1% in Czechia over one month.
National consumer price index (CPI)
According to national consumer price indices, too, published on the websites of national statistical offices – and suitable for international comparisons only to a limited extent –, consumer prices went up the most (by 4.9–4.5%) in Romania and Estonia in April 2025 compared to a year earlier. The price increase in Hungary was 4.2% according to the national consumer price index as well, the fourth highest within the EU.
In Hungary, food cost 5.4% more on average than in April 2024. Eggs, flour, edible oil, chocolate and cocoa as well as coffee became significantly, 20–27% more expensive. However, margarine became 29%, milk products 7.5% on average and other meat preparations 6.4% cheaper. The consumer price of electricity, gas and other fuels rose by 3.5% on average, within which 8.7% more was to be paid for butane and propane gas and 7.2% more for natural and manufactured gas than in the same month of the previous year. Motor fuels became 7.1% cheaper, however, alcoholic beverage and tobacco and consumer durable prices were up by 6.3% and 2.0%, respectively. Service charges were 7.0% higher in total than a year earlier, within which postal service prices, rents, vehicle repair and maintenance prices as well as dwelling repair and maintenance prices and personal care service prices increased by 10–11%.
The National Bank of Hungary forecast an inflation of 4.5–5.1% for 2025 in its Inflation Report for March. The rate of consumer price rise in the European Union may be 2.3% in 2025 according to the expectations of the European Commission, which may help the domestic inflation lessen.
Table 1
Changes in consumer prices in member states of the European Union, April 2025
Countries
CPI
HICP
compared with same month of previous year, %
compared with previous month, %
EU average
..
2.4
0.5
Euro area
..
2.2
0.6
Belgium
2.6
3.1
–0.7
Bulgaria
3.5
2.8
–1.2
Czechia
1.8
1.7
–0.1
Denmark
1.5
1.5
0.1
Germany
2.1
2.2
0.5
Estonia
4.5
4.4
1.2
Ireland
2.2
2.0
0.4
Greece
2.0
2.6
0.5
Spain
2.2
2.2
0.6
France
0.8
0.9
0.7
Croatia
3.2
4.0
0.7
Italy
1.9
2.0
0.4
Cyprus
0.2
1.4
0.7
Latvia
3.9
4.0
1.1
Lithuania
4.1
3.6
0.2
Luxembourg
1.7
1.7
0.6
Hungary
4.2
4.2
0.1
Maltaa)
..
2.6
3.2
Netherlands
4.1
4.1
1.8
Austria
3.1
3.3
0.3
Poland
4.3
3.7
0.3
Portugal
2.1
2.1
1.3
Romania
4.9
4.9
0.2
Slovenia
2.3
2.3
0.8
Slovakia
3.7
3.9
0.1
Finland
0.5
1.9
0.2
Sweden
0.3
2.1
0.2
a) Only the harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) is available.
Source: Euro indicators - Inflation, April 2025 and websites of the national statistical offices of the member states.
Download date: 19 May 2025.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Released: 23 May 2025
Harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP)
According to the harmonised index of consumer prices, ensuring the comparability of inflation in EU member countries, consumer prices were 2.4% higher on average in the European Union in April 2025 than in the same period of the previous year. Within the EU, inflation was highest in Romania (4.9%), Estonia (4.4%) and Hungary (4.2%). Looking at the other three Visegrád countries, the price rise (of 3.9% and 3.7%) in Slovakia and Poland, respectively, can also be considered relatively high, and that in Czechia was below the EU average, at 1.7%. The lowest inflation within the EU, at 0.9%, was measured for France.
Compared to the previous month, consumer prices were up by 0.5% in the EU as a whole and by 0.1% in Hungary. Out of Visegrád countries, there were small price rises (of 0.3% and 0.1%) in Poland and Slovakia, respectively, and the price level lessened by 0.1% in Czechia over one month.
National consumer price index (CPI)
According to national consumer price indices, too, published on the websites of national statistical offices – and suitable for international comparisons only to a limited extent –, consumer prices went up the most (by 4.9–4.5%) in Romania and Estonia in April 2025 compared to a year earlier. The price increase in Hungary was 4.2% according to the national consumer price index as well, the fourth highest within the EU.
In Hungary, food cost 5.4% more on average than in April 2024. Eggs, flour, edible oil, chocolate and cocoa as well as coffee became significantly, 20–27% more expensive. However, margarine became 29%, milk products 7.5% on average and other meat preparations 6.4% cheaper. The consumer price of electricity, gas and other fuels rose by 3.5% on average, within which 8.7% more was to be paid for butane and propane gas and 7.2% more for natural and manufactured gas than in the same month of the previous year. Motor fuels became 7.1% cheaper, however, alcoholic beverage and tobacco and consumer durable prices were up by 6.3% and 2.0%, respectively. Service charges were 7.0% higher in total than a year earlier, within which postal service prices, rents, vehicle repair and maintenance prices as well as dwelling repair and maintenance prices and personal care service prices increased by 10–11%.
The National Bank of Hungary forecast an inflation of 4.5–5.1% for 2025 in its Inflation Report for March. The rate of consumer price rise in the European Union may be 2.3% in 2025 according to the expectations of the European Commission, which may help the domestic inflation lessen.
Changes in consumer prices in member states of the European Union, April 2025
| Countries | CPI | HICP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| compared with same month of previous year, % | compared with previous month, % | ||
| EU average | .. | 2.4 | 0.5 |
| Euro area | .. | 2.2 | 0.6 |
| Belgium | 2.6 | 3.1 | –0.7 |
| Bulgaria | 3.5 | 2.8 | –1.2 |
| Czechia | 1.8 | 1.7 | –0.1 |
| Denmark | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.1 |
| Germany | 2.1 | 2.2 | 0.5 |
| Estonia | 4.5 | 4.4 | 1.2 |
| Ireland | 2.2 | 2.0 | 0.4 |
| Greece | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.5 |
| Spain | 2.2 | 2.2 | 0.6 |
| France | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 |
| Croatia | 3.2 | 4.0 | 0.7 |
| Italy | 1.9 | 2.0 | 0.4 |
| Cyprus | 0.2 | 1.4 | 0.7 |
| Latvia | 3.9 | 4.0 | 1.1 |
| Lithuania | 4.1 | 3.6 | 0.2 |
| Luxembourg | 1.7 | 1.7 | 0.6 |
| Hungary | 4.2 | 4.2 | 0.1 |
| Maltaa) | .. | 2.6 | 3.2 |
| Netherlands | 4.1 | 4.1 | 1.8 |
| Austria | 3.1 | 3.3 | 0.3 |
| Poland | 4.3 | 3.7 | 0.3 |
| Portugal | 2.1 | 2.1 | 1.3 |
| Romania | 4.9 | 4.9 | 0.2 |
| Slovenia | 2.3 | 2.3 | 0.8 |
| Slovakia | 3.7 | 3.9 | 0.1 |
| Finland | 0.5 | 1.9 | 0.2 |
| Sweden | 0.3 | 2.1 | 0.2 |
Source: Euro indicators - Inflation, April 2025 and websites of the national statistical offices of the member states.
Download date: 19 May 2025.