Change in consumer prices in the European Union, May 2025
Released: 25 June 2025
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 2.2% higher on average in the European Union in May 2025 than in the same period of the previous year. Within the EU, inflation was highest in Romania (5.4%), Estonia (4.6%) and Hungary (4.5%). Looking at the other three Visegrád countries, the price rise (of 4.3% and 3.5%) in Slovakia and Poland, respectively, can also be considered relatively high, and that in Czechia was similar to the EU average, at 2.3%. The lowest inflation within the EU, at 0.4% and 0.6%, was measured for Cyprus and France, respectively.
Compared to the previous month, consumer prices stagnated in the EU as a whole and were up by 0.2% in Hungary. Out of Visegrád countries, there was a price rise of 0.5% in both Czechia and Slovakia, and the price level lessened by 0.1% in Poland over one month.
National consumer price index (CPI)
According to national consumer price indices, too, published on the websites of national statistical offices – and suitable for international comparisons only to a limited extent –, consumer prices went up the most (by 5.5–4.4%) in Romania, Estonia and Hungary in May 2025 compared to a year earlier.
In Hungary, food cost 5.9% more on average than in May 2024. Eggs, edible oil, flour, coffee as well as chocolate and cocoa became significantly, 22–26% more expensive. However, margarine became 30%, milk products on average 7.4%, other meat preparations 7.3% and pork 1.6% cheaper. The consumer price of electricity, gas and other fuels rose by 5.3%, within which 11% more was to be paid for natural and manufactured gas and 6.8% more for butane and propane gas than in the same month of the previous year. Motor fuels became 4.8% cheaper, however, alcoholic beverage and tobacco and consumer durable prices increased by 7.3% and 2.2%, respectively. Service charges were 5.9% higher in total than a year earlier, within which postal service prices, rents, dwelling and vehicle repairs and maintenance prices, personal care and household service prices as well as theatre, cinema and other public entertainment ticket prices increased the most, by 10–11%.
The National Bank of Hungary forecast an inflation of 4.5–5.1% for 2025 in its Inflation Report for March. The rate of consumer price rise in the European Union may be 2.3% in 2025 according to the expectations of the European Commission, which may help the domestic inflation lessen.
Table 1
Changes in consumer prices in member states of the European Union, May 2025
Countries
CPI
HICP
compared with same month of previous year, %
compared with previous month, %
EU average
..
2.2
0.0
Euro area
..
1.9
0.0
Belgium
2.0
2.8
–0.1
Bulgaria
3.7
2.9
0.1
Czechia
2.4
2.3
0.5
Denmark
1.6
1.5
0.0
Germany
2.1
2.1
0.2
Estonia
4.5
4.6
0.1
Ireland
1.7
1.4
0.0
Greece
2.5
3.3
0.4
Spain
2.0
2.0
0.0
France
0.7
0.6
–0.2
Croatia
3.5
4.3
0.5
Italy
1.6
1.7
–0.1
Cyprus
–0.2
0.4
0.2
Latvia
3.6
3.7
0.0
Lithuania
3.4
3.0
–0.3
Luxembourg
2.0
2.1
0.5
Hungary
4.4
4.5
0.2
Maltaa)
..
2.7
1.7
Netherlands
3.3
2.9
–0.9
Austria
3.0
3.0
–0.1
Poland
4.0
3.5
–0.1
Portugal
2.3
1.7
0.6
Romania
5.5
5.4
0.5
Slovenia
1.8
1.9
–0.1
Slovakia
4.1
4.3
0.5
Finland
0.5
2.0
0.1
Sweden
0.2
2.3
0.3
a) Only the harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) is available.
Source: Euro indicators - Inflation, May 2025 and websites of the national statistical offices of the member states.
Download date: 18 June 2025.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Released: 25 June 2025
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 2.2% higher on average in the European Union in May 2025 than in the same period of the previous year. Within the EU, inflation was highest in Romania (5.4%), Estonia (4.6%) and Hungary (4.5%). Looking at the other three Visegrád countries, the price rise (of 4.3% and 3.5%) in Slovakia and Poland, respectively, can also be considered relatively high, and that in Czechia was similar to the EU average, at 2.3%. The lowest inflation within the EU, at 0.4% and 0.6%, was measured for Cyprus and France, respectively.
Compared to the previous month, consumer prices stagnated in the EU as a whole and were up by 0.2% in Hungary. Out of Visegrád countries, there was a price rise of 0.5% in both Czechia and Slovakia, and the price level lessened by 0.1% in Poland over one month.
National consumer price index (CPI)
According to national consumer price indices, too, published on the websites of national statistical offices – and suitable for international comparisons only to a limited extent –, consumer prices went up the most (by 5.5–4.4%) in Romania, Estonia and Hungary in May 2025 compared to a year earlier.
In Hungary, food cost 5.9% more on average than in May 2024. Eggs, edible oil, flour, coffee as well as chocolate and cocoa became significantly, 22–26% more expensive. However, margarine became 30%, milk products on average 7.4%, other meat preparations 7.3% and pork 1.6% cheaper. The consumer price of electricity, gas and other fuels rose by 5.3%, within which 11% more was to be paid for natural and manufactured gas and 6.8% more for butane and propane gas than in the same month of the previous year. Motor fuels became 4.8% cheaper, however, alcoholic beverage and tobacco and consumer durable prices increased by 7.3% and 2.2%, respectively. Service charges were 5.9% higher in total than a year earlier, within which postal service prices, rents, dwelling and vehicle repairs and maintenance prices, personal care and household service prices as well as theatre, cinema and other public entertainment ticket prices increased the most, by 10–11%.
The National Bank of Hungary forecast an inflation of 4.5–5.1% for 2025 in its Inflation Report for March. The rate of consumer price rise in the European Union may be 2.3% in 2025 according to the expectations of the European Commission, which may help the domestic inflation lessen.
Changes in consumer prices in member states of the European Union, May 2025
| Countries | CPI | HICP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| compared with same month of previous year, % | compared with previous month, % | ||
| EU average | .. | 2.2 | 0.0 |
| Euro area | .. | 1.9 | 0.0 |
| Belgium | 2.0 | 2.8 | –0.1 |
| Bulgaria | 3.7 | 2.9 | 0.1 |
| Czechia | 2.4 | 2.3 | 0.5 |
| Denmark | 1.6 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| Germany | 2.1 | 2.1 | 0.2 |
| Estonia | 4.5 | 4.6 | 0.1 |
| Ireland | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Greece | 2.5 | 3.3 | 0.4 |
| Spain | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| France | 0.7 | 0.6 | –0.2 |
| Croatia | 3.5 | 4.3 | 0.5 |
| Italy | 1.6 | 1.7 | –0.1 |
| Cyprus | –0.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Latvia | 3.6 | 3.7 | 0.0 |
| Lithuania | 3.4 | 3.0 | –0.3 |
| Luxembourg | 2.0 | 2.1 | 0.5 |
| Hungary | 4.4 | 4.5 | 0.2 |
| Maltaa) | .. | 2.7 | 1.7 |
| Netherlands | 3.3 | 2.9 | –0.9 |
| Austria | 3.0 | 3.0 | –0.1 |
| Poland | 4.0 | 3.5 | –0.1 |
| Portugal | 2.3 | 1.7 | 0.6 |
| Romania | 5.5 | 5.4 | 0.5 |
| Slovenia | 1.8 | 1.9 | –0.1 |
| Slovakia | 4.1 | 4.3 | 0.5 |
| Finland | 0.5 | 2.0 | 0.1 |
| Sweden | 0.2 | 2.3 | 0.3 |
Source: Euro indicators - Inflation, May 2025 and websites of the national statistical offices of the member states.
Download date: 18 June 2025.