Inflation edges toward 4% – Diesel and heating oil surge by over 20%

Inflation roseate to 3.9% successful March, driven chiefly by increases successful heating and transport substance prices amid developments successful the Middle East, while further terms hikes were recorded successful nutrient products.

At the aforesaid time, olive lipid prices person continued to diminution for respective months. According to information from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), ostentation accelerated to 3.9% successful March 2026, up from 2.7% successful February.

Among the categories signaling the highest yearly increases were beef (+20.3%), followed by lamb and goat nutrient (+14.1%), margarine and vegetable fats (+11.6%), java (+11.3%), and cocoa and cocoa products (+9%). In contrast, olive lipid posted the steepest decline, falling by 22.5%.

In the vigor sector, the situation successful the Middle East drove heating lipid prices up by 24.6% year-on-year successful March 2025, while diesel accrued by 22.8%. Gasoline prices roseate astatine a much mean gait of 9%, while different fuels surged by 27.4%. Electricity prices recorded a 2.4% yearly increase, whereas earthy state prices declined by 25.2%.

Air transport fares besides roseate by 22%.

The 3.9% summation successful the wide Consumer Price Index (CPI) successful March 2026, compared with March 2025, was chiefly driven by changes crossed the pursuing categories of goods and services:

• Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+4.5%), chiefly owed to higher prices for breadstuff and bakery products, beef, lamb and goat meat, poultry, processed nutrient products, food and seafood, dairy and eggs, margarine and vegetable fats, fruit, vegetables, cocoa products, confectionery, and coffee. This summation was partially offset by little prices for pasta, olive oil, different edible oils, and condiments.
• Alcoholic beverages and tobacco (+0.9%), driven chiefly by higher cigaret prices.
• Clothing and footwear (+2.1%), reflecting accrued prices successful apparel and footwear.
• Housing (+5.7%), chiefly owed to rising rents, lodging attraction and repair costs, various housing-related services, electricity, and heating oil. This was partially offset by little earthy state prices.
• Durable goods, household items and services (+0.2%), chiefly owed to higher prices successful household services, partially offset by declines successful non-durable household goods.
• Health (+1.4%), driven by increases successful aesculapian products, outpatient services, and infirmary care, partially offset by little pharmaceutical prices.
• Transport (+8.1%), reflecting higher prices for caller cars, spare parts and idiosyncratic transport equipment, diesel, gasoline, different fuels, attraction and repair of transport equipment, related services, and aerial rider transport fares. This summation was partially offset by little prices for used cars.
• Recreation, sports and civilization (+0.7%), owed to higher prices for gardening products, pets, and bundle holidays, partially offset by declines successful recreational services.
• Education (+2.8%), driven by increases successful tuition fees for pre-primary, primary, and secondary education.
• Hotels, cafés and restaurants (+6.1%), chiefly owed to higher prices successful restaurants, confectioneries, accelerated nutrient outlets, and cafeterias, partially offset by little accommodation prices.
• Insurance and fiscal services (+1.5%), chiefly owed to higher wellness security premiums, partially offset by little vehicle security premiums.

Meanwhile, terms decreases were recorded in:

• Information and connection (-2.3%), driven by little prices for connection equipment, mobile telephony services, and bundled telecom packages.
• Personal care, κοινωνικά extortion and different goods and services (-0.4%), chiefly owed to little prices for idiosyncratic hygiene and attraction products, partially offset by increases successful hairdressing and idiosyncratic attraction services, arsenic well arsenic different related services.