Hungary's June inflation matches central bank forecast as public price perception eases

Hungary's statistical office (KSH) reported that the annual consumer‑price inflation rate for June was 1.7%, exactly matching the National Bank of Hungary's (MNB) revised expectation. The central bank had previously projected a 3.8% rate for the spring, but has halved that forecast after recent drops in global energy prices, a sustained strengthening of the forint and more moderate food‑price growth. The government, finance ministry and the MNB are cited as drawing a unified conclusion from both foreign‑market developments and domestic trends.

A K&H insurance survey of middle‑aged Hungarians reveals that their personal inflation perception remains higher than the official figure, though it has shifted downward. In the second quarter of 2026 respondents estimated price increases at 5‑10% on average, down from 15% a year earlier, and many now expect price stability or modest rises over the next twelve months. The poll also notes variations by income level, with higher earners sensing slightly lower price pressure.

Both the official data and the consumer sentiment indicate that the inflation shock of previous years is receding, while expectations for future price movements are becoming more restrained.