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Inflationary trends in Bulgaria

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2026-08-17 20:06 UTC → 2026-08-20 10:24 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In July 2026, Bulgaria experienced a deceleration in annual inflation, which fell to approximately 4.4–4.5 percent from 5.4 percent in June. This decline was attributed largely to lower oil prices. However, specific sectors saw significant price increases, including recreation, sport, and culture, which surged by 11.6 percent monthly, as well as restaurants, accommodation, and housing-related costs. Economist Yulian Voynov noted a discrepancy between these official figures and public perception. He identified several drivers of inflationary pressure that standard methodologies may overlook, such as the influence of the shadow economy on real estate, bank lending, and the influx of unbanked cash, which he estimated added approximately 1.2 percent to the inflation index. Voynov also noted that public perception of price hikes is often linked to ‘1:1 speculation’ or price rounding in the service sector. By mid-August, Eurostat data confirmed that Bulgaria’s annual inflation slowed to 4.4 percent in July, down from 5.2 percent in June. Despite this downward trend, Bulgaria remains among the countries with the highest price growth in the EU, maintaining a rate significantly above the Eurozone average of 2.9 percent. High costs within the summer tourism sector, specifically regarding hotels and international flights, continue to contribute to these elevated figures.

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