Change in consumer prices in the European Union, October 2025
Released: 9 December 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 October 2025 than in the same period of the previous year. Within the EU, inflation was highest in Romania (8.4%). Hungary was the fourth in the order of the member states, with an average consumer price rise of 4.2%. Among Visegrád countries, there was a price increase of 3.9% in Slovakia, of 2.9% in Poland and of 2.3% in Czechia. The lowest inflation rates (of 0.2% and 0.8%, respectively) were measured for Cyprus and France.
Compared to the previous month, consumer prices were up by 0.2% in the EU as a whole and were unchanged in total in Hungary. In the other three Visegrád countries, the price level augmented by 0.1–0.5% over one month.
National consumer price index (CPI)
According to national consumer price indices, too, published on the website of national statistical offices – and suitable for international comparisons only to a limited extent –, consumer prices rose the most (by 9.8%) in Romania in October 2025 compared to a year earlier. In Hungary, inflation was 4.3% according to this methodology.
In Hungary, food cost 3.9% more on average for consumers than in October 2024. The highest price rises of 15–20% were recorded for eggs, beef, chocolate and cocoa, fresh domestic and tropical fruits as well as coffee. The price of meals at restaurants and canteens also grew at a rate exceeding the average, by 8.8%, and food inflation was 1.7% excluding food and beverage serving services. Among others, margarine, pork fat, flour, milk and milk products, potatoes, sugar as well as fresh vegetables became cheaper within the product group. The consumer price of electricity, gas and other fuels rose by 11%, within which 24% more was to be paid for natural and manufactured gas and 2.1% more for electricity than in the same month of the previous year. Motor fuels cost 2.2% less, while alcoholic beverages and tobacco and consumer durables 7.5% and 2.4% more, respectively, for consumers. Service charges were 6.7% higher in total than a year earlier, within which the prices of theatre tickets and recreation abroad went up the most (by 20% each).
The National Bank of Hungary forecast an inflation of 4.6% for 2025 in its Inflation Report in September. The rate of consumer price rise in the European Union may be 2.5% in 2025 as a whole according to the expectations of the European Commission.
Table 1
Changes in consumer prices in member states of the European Union, October 2025
Countries
CPI
HICP
compared with same month of previous year, %
compared with previous month, %
EU average
..
2.5
0.2
Euro area
..
2.1
0.2
Belgium
2.0
2.5
0.4
Bulgaria
5.3
3.8
0.4
Czechia
2.5
2.3
0.5
Denmark
2.1
2.1
0.6
Germany
2.3
2.3
0.3
Estonia
4.6
4.5
0.1
Ireland
2.9
2.8
0.4
Greece
2.0
1.6
-0.1
Spain
3.1
3.2
0.5
France
0.9
0.8
0.1
Croatia
3.6
4.0
0.2
Italy
1.2
1.3
-0.2
Cyprus
-0.3
0.2
0.1
Latvia
4.3
4.3
0.3
Lithuania
4.1
3.7
0.1
Luxembourg
2.7
3.0
-0.1
Hungary
4.3
4.2
0.0
Malta
..
2.5
-0.9
Netherlands
3.1
3.0
0.6
Austria
4.0
4.0
0.5
Poland
2.8
2.9
0.3
Portugal
2.3
2.0
-0.3
Romania
9.8
8.4
0.5
Slovenia
3.1
3.1
0.1
Slovakia
3.7
3.9
0.1
Finland
-0.2
1.4
-0.1
Sweden
0.9
3.1
0.4
Source: Euro indicators - Inflation, October 2025 and websites of the national statistical offices of the member states.
Download date: 19 November 2025.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Released: 9 December 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 October 2025 than in the same period of the previous year. Within the EU, inflation was highest in Romania (8.4%). Hungary was the fourth in the order of the member states, with an average consumer price rise of 4.2%. Among Visegrád countries, there was a price increase of 3.9% in Slovakia, of 2.9% in Poland and of 2.3% in Czechia. The lowest inflation rates (of 0.2% and 0.8%, respectively) were measured for Cyprus and France.
Compared to the previous month, consumer prices were up by 0.2% in the EU as a whole and were unchanged in total in Hungary. In the other three Visegrád countries, the price level augmented by 0.1–0.5% over one month.
National consumer price index (CPI)
According to national consumer price indices, too, published on the website of national statistical offices – and suitable for international comparisons only to a limited extent –, consumer prices rose the most (by 9.8%) in Romania in October 2025 compared to a year earlier. In Hungary, inflation was 4.3% according to this methodology.
In Hungary, food cost 3.9% more on average for consumers than in October 2024. The highest price rises of 15–20% were recorded for eggs, beef, chocolate and cocoa, fresh domestic and tropical fruits as well as coffee. The price of meals at restaurants and canteens also grew at a rate exceeding the average, by 8.8%, and food inflation was 1.7% excluding food and beverage serving services. Among others, margarine, pork fat, flour, milk and milk products, potatoes, sugar as well as fresh vegetables became cheaper within the product group. The consumer price of electricity, gas and other fuels rose by 11%, within which 24% more was to be paid for natural and manufactured gas and 2.1% more for electricity than in the same month of the previous year. Motor fuels cost 2.2% less, while alcoholic beverages and tobacco and consumer durables 7.5% and 2.4% more, respectively, for consumers. Service charges were 6.7% higher in total than a year earlier, within which the prices of theatre tickets and recreation abroad went up the most (by 20% each).
The National Bank of Hungary forecast an inflation of 4.6% for 2025 in its Inflation Report in September. The rate of consumer price rise in the European Union may be 2.5% in 2025 as a whole according to the expectations of the European Commission.
Changes in consumer prices in member states of the European Union, October 2025
| Countries | CPI | HICP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| compared with same month of previous year, % | compared with previous month, % | ||
| EU average | .. | 2.5 | 0.2 |
| Euro area | .. | 2.1 | 0.2 |
| Belgium | 2.0 | 2.5 | 0.4 |
| Bulgaria | 5.3 | 3.8 | 0.4 |
| Czechia | 2.5 | 2.3 | 0.5 |
| Denmark | 2.1 | 2.1 | 0.6 |
| Germany | 2.3 | 2.3 | 0.3 |
| Estonia | 4.6 | 4.5 | 0.1 |
| Ireland | 2.9 | 2.8 | 0.4 |
| Greece | 2.0 | 1.6 | -0.1 |
| Spain | 3.1 | 3.2 | 0.5 |
| France | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.1 |
| Croatia | 3.6 | 4.0 | 0.2 |
| Italy | 1.2 | 1.3 | -0.2 |
| Cyprus | -0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Latvia | 4.3 | 4.3 | 0.3 |
| Lithuania | 4.1 | 3.7 | 0.1 |
| Luxembourg | 2.7 | 3.0 | -0.1 |
| Hungary | 4.3 | 4.2 | 0.0 |
| Malta | .. | 2.5 | -0.9 |
| Netherlands | 3.1 | 3.0 | 0.6 |
| Austria | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.5 |
| Poland | 2.8 | 2.9 | 0.3 |
| Portugal | 2.3 | 2.0 | -0.3 |
| Romania | 9.8 | 8.4 | 0.5 |
| Slovenia | 3.1 | 3.1 | 0.1 |
| Slovakia | 3.7 | 3.9 | 0.1 |
| Finland | -0.2 | 1.4 | -0.1 |
| Sweden | 0.9 | 3.1 | 0.4 |
Source: Euro indicators - Inflation, October 2025 and websites of the national statistical offices of the member states.
Download date: 19 November 2025.