Change in consumer prices in member states of the European Union, December 2025 and year 2025
Released: 2 February 2026
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 2.3% higher on average in the European Union in December 2025 than in the same period of the previous year. Within the EU, inflation was highest in Romania (8.6%). Hungary (together with Luxembourg) was the eighth in the order of the member states, with an average consumer price rise of 3.3%. Among Visegrád countries, there was a price increase of 4.1% in Slovakia, of 2.5% in Poland and of 1.8% in Czechia. The lowest inflation (of 0.1% and 0.7%, respectively) was measured for Cyprus and France.
Compared to the previous month, consumer prices rose by 0.1% in the EU as a whole as well as in Hungary. Out of the other three Visegrád countries, the price level was unchanged in Poland and went down by 0.3% in both Czechia and Slovakia over one month.
Consumer prices became 2.5% higher on average in the European Union in 2025 as a whole than in year 2024. The annual inflation was highest in Romania (at 6.8%) and lowest in Cyprus and France (at 0.8% and 0.9%, respectively). There was a price rise of 4.4% in Hungary, which (together with Croatia) was considered the third largest price increase within the EU. Among Visegrád countries, inflation was 4.2% in Slovakia, 3.3% in Poland and 2.3% in Czechia in 2025.
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 9.7%) in Romania in December 2025 compared to a year earlier. In Hungary, inflation was 3.3% according to this methodology as well.
In Hungary, food cost 2.6% more on average for consumers than in December 2024. The highest price increases of 12–15% were recorded for beef, chocolate and cocoa, other confectionery products, fresh domestic and tropical fruits as well as coffee. Besides, the price of meals at restaurants and canteens (out of which mainly buffet products), among others, also grew at a rate exceeding the average considerably, by 9.2%. Food prices lessened by 0.3% excluding food and beverage serving services. Among others, margarine, flour, milk, milk products, pork as well as sugar became cheaper within the product group. The consumer price of electricity, gas and other fuels rose by 8.9%, within which 20% more was to be paid for natural and manufactured gas and 2.2% more for electricity than in the same month of the previous year. Motor fuels cost 8.6% less, while alcoholic beverages and tobacco and consumer durables 7.1% and 2.7% more, respectively, for consumers. Service charges were 6.8% higher in total than a year earlier, within which the prices of theatre tickets and recreation abroad went up the most (by 20% each).
In 2025, the highest price rise of 6.7% was recorded for services. In addition, the prices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco and electricity, gas and other fuels also increased at rates exceeding the average inflation of 4.4% (by 6.5% and 6.4%, respectively). Food cost an average 5.3% more (3.9% more excluding food and beverage serving services) for consumers over the year than in 2024.
The National Bank of Hungary forecast an inflation rate of 3.2% for 2026 in its Inflation Report in December. The annual average rate of consumer price rise in the European Union may be 2.1% according to the expectations of the European Commission.
Table 1
Changes in consumer prices in member states of the European Union, December 2025
Countries
CPI
HICP
compared with same month of previous year, %
compared with previous month, %
EU average
..
2.3
0.1
Euro area
..
1.9
0.2
Belgium
2.1
2.2
0.3
Bulgaria
5.0
3.5
0.1
Czechia
2.1
1.8
–0.3
Denmark
1.9
1.9
–0.4
Germany
1.8
2.0
0.2
Estonia
4.1
4.0
–0.4
Ireland
2.8
2.7
0.6
Greece
2.6
2.9
0.1
Spain
2.9
3.0
0.3
France
0.8
0.7
0.1
Croatia
3.3
3.8
–0.3
Italy
1.2
1.2
0.2
Cyprus
–0.5
0.1
–0.4
Latvia
3.5
3.4
0.0
Lithuania
3.4
3.2
–0.2
Luxembourg
3.1
3.3
–0.2
Hungary
3.3
3.3
0.1
Malta
..
2.4
–0.4
Netherlands
2.8
2.5
0.2
Austria
3.8
3.8
0.5
Poland
2.4
2.5
0.0
Portugal
2.2
2.4
0.0
Romania
9.7
8.6
0.2
Slovenia
2.7
2.6
0.1
Slovakia
3.8
4.1
–0.3
Finland
0.2
1.7
0.2
Sweden
0.3
2.1
0.1
Source: Euro indicators - Inflation, December 2025 and websites of the national statistical offices of the member states.
Download date: 20 January 2026.
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Figure 4
Released: 2 February 2026
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 2.3% higher on average in the European Union in December 2025 than in the same period of the previous year. Within the EU, inflation was highest in Romania (8.6%). Hungary (together with Luxembourg) was the eighth in the order of the member states, with an average consumer price rise of 3.3%. Among Visegrád countries, there was a price increase of 4.1% in Slovakia, of 2.5% in Poland and of 1.8% in Czechia. The lowest inflation (of 0.1% and 0.7%, respectively) was measured for Cyprus and France.
Compared to the previous month, consumer prices rose by 0.1% in the EU as a whole as well as in Hungary. Out of the other three Visegrád countries, the price level was unchanged in Poland and went down by 0.3% in both Czechia and Slovakia over one month.
Consumer prices became 2.5% higher on average in the European Union in 2025 as a whole than in year 2024. The annual inflation was highest in Romania (at 6.8%) and lowest in Cyprus and France (at 0.8% and 0.9%, respectively). There was a price rise of 4.4% in Hungary, which (together with Croatia) was considered the third largest price increase within the EU. Among Visegrád countries, inflation was 4.2% in Slovakia, 3.3% in Poland and 2.3% in Czechia in 2025.
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 9.7%) in Romania in December 2025 compared to a year earlier. In Hungary, inflation was 3.3% according to this methodology as well.
In Hungary, food cost 2.6% more on average for consumers than in December 2024. The highest price increases of 12–15% were recorded for beef, chocolate and cocoa, other confectionery products, fresh domestic and tropical fruits as well as coffee. Besides, the price of meals at restaurants and canteens (out of which mainly buffet products), among others, also grew at a rate exceeding the average considerably, by 9.2%. Food prices lessened by 0.3% excluding food and beverage serving services. Among others, margarine, flour, milk, milk products, pork as well as sugar became cheaper within the product group. The consumer price of electricity, gas and other fuels rose by 8.9%, within which 20% more was to be paid for natural and manufactured gas and 2.2% more for electricity than in the same month of the previous year. Motor fuels cost 8.6% less, while alcoholic beverages and tobacco and consumer durables 7.1% and 2.7% more, respectively, for consumers. Service charges were 6.8% higher in total than a year earlier, within which the prices of theatre tickets and recreation abroad went up the most (by 20% each).
In 2025, the highest price rise of 6.7% was recorded for services. In addition, the prices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco and electricity, gas and other fuels also increased at rates exceeding the average inflation of 4.4% (by 6.5% and 6.4%, respectively). Food cost an average 5.3% more (3.9% more excluding food and beverage serving services) for consumers over the year than in 2024.
The National Bank of Hungary forecast an inflation rate of 3.2% for 2026 in its Inflation Report in December. The annual average rate of consumer price rise in the European Union may be 2.1% according to the expectations of the European Commission.
Changes in consumer prices in member states of the European Union, December 2025
| Countries | CPI | HICP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| compared with same month of previous year, % | compared with previous month, % | ||
| EU average | .. | 2.3 | 0.1 |
| Euro area | .. | 1.9 | 0.2 |
| Belgium | 2.1 | 2.2 | 0.3 |
| Bulgaria | 5.0 | 3.5 | 0.1 |
| Czechia | 2.1 | 1.8 | –0.3 |
| Denmark | 1.9 | 1.9 | –0.4 |
| Germany | 1.8 | 2.0 | 0.2 |
| Estonia | 4.1 | 4.0 | –0.4 |
| Ireland | 2.8 | 2.7 | 0.6 |
| Greece | 2.6 | 2.9 | 0.1 |
| Spain | 2.9 | 3.0 | 0.3 |
| France | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.1 |
| Croatia | 3.3 | 3.8 | –0.3 |
| Italy | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.2 |
| Cyprus | –0.5 | 0.1 | –0.4 |
| Latvia | 3.5 | 3.4 | 0.0 |
| Lithuania | 3.4 | 3.2 | –0.2 |
| Luxembourg | 3.1 | 3.3 | –0.2 |
| Hungary | 3.3 | 3.3 | 0.1 |
| Malta | .. | 2.4 | –0.4 |
| Netherlands | 2.8 | 2.5 | 0.2 |
| Austria | 3.8 | 3.8 | 0.5 |
| Poland | 2.4 | 2.5 | 0.0 |
| Portugal | 2.2 | 2.4 | 0.0 |
| Romania | 9.7 | 8.6 | 0.2 |
| Slovenia | 2.7 | 2.6 | 0.1 |
| Slovakia | 3.8 | 4.1 | –0.3 |
| Finland | 0.2 | 1.7 | 0.2 |
| Sweden | 0.3 | 2.1 | 0.1 |
Source: Euro indicators - Inflation, December 2025 and websites of the national statistical offices of the member states.
Download date: 20 January 2026.