Inflation rates in North Macedonia and Albania show varying trends

Inflationary trends in the Balkans show diverging patterns for August 2026. In North Macedonia, the annual inflation rate reached 2.6%, a significant decrease from the 16.8% recorded in August 2022. This rate remains below the Eurozone average of 3.3%. Monthly consumer costs in North Macedonia rose by 0.4%, driven primarily by increases in recreation, sports, and culture (3.1%), as well as restaurants and accommodation (2.5%). While transport costs saw a monthly decline of 0.8%, food prices rose by 0.5%.

In Albania, the annual inflation rate rose to 3.2%, up from 2.3% in the same month the previous year. Monthly consumer prices increased by 0.1%. The primary contributors to Albania's annual inflation were food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.95 percentage points), transport (0.79 percentage points), and housing-related costs including rent, water, and electricity (0.76 percentage points). In Albania, transport costs saw the highest annual increase at 12%.