Change in consumer prices in the European Union, March 2025

Released: 22 April 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 2.5% higher on average in the European Union in March 2025 than in the same period of the previous year. Within the EU, inflation was highest in Romania (5.1%), Hungary (4.8%) and Poland (4.4%). Looking at the other two Visegrád countries, the price rise (of 4.2%) in Slovakia can also be considered high, and that in Czechia was around the EU average, at 2.7%. 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 were unchanged in Hungary. Out of Visegrád countries, prices in Czechia, Poland and Slovakia increased at lower rates than the EU average (by 0.1–0.3%) 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 4.9–4.7%) in Poland, Romania and Hungary in March 2025 compared to a year earlier.

In Hungary, food cost 7.0% more on average than in March 2024. The acceleration, starting in the second half of 2024, in food inflation stopped. Within the product group, flour became the most expensive (by 42%), in addition, edible oil and egg prices increased at rates above 20%, too. 14–19% more was to be paid than one year earlier for coffee, chocolate and cocoa, milk, fruit and vegetable juices as well as butter. The consumer price of electricity, gas and other fuels lessened by 2.7% on average, first of all due to decreases of 5.5% and 5.1% in natural and manufactured gas and firewood prices, respectively, while butane and propane gas became 10% more expensive. Motor fuels became 2.5% cheaper, however, alcoholic beverage and tobacco and consumer durable prices were up by 5.5% and 2.1%, respectively. Service charges were 7.5% higher in total than a year earlier, within which rents grew by 12% and postal services became 11% and personal care services 10% more expensive.

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 2.4% in 2025 according to the expectations of the European Commission, which may help the domestic inflation lessen.