Eurostat methodology, entertainment prices with the highest increase in December

2026-01-19 15:35:06, Ekonomi CNA

The average annual increase in the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (Eurostat methodology) in 2025 is 2.3%, the same as the national index. In December, the increase in the HICP was led by entertainment services, not by rental prices as in the national measurements.

The CPI covers only Albanian private household expenditures incurred within the country's territory. The main source of expenditure data (“weights”) is the Household Budget Survey (HBS), while the HICP covers all expenditures incurred within the country's territory by Albanian households, as well as the expenditures of resident and non-resident visitors.

According to the HCI, in December 2025 prices increased by +2.2%. The largest increase of 7.6% was observed in the “Entertainment and culture” group, followed by the “Miscellaneous goods and services” groups with 2.6%, “Alcoholic beverages and tobacco” with 2.5%, “Furniture, household equipment and maintenance” with 2.3%, “Educational services” and “Hotels, cafes and restaurants” with 2.2% each, “Food and non-alcoholic beverages” with 2.1%, “Rent, water, fuel and energy” with 1.4%, “Health” with 1.1%, “Clothing and footwear” with 0.9% and “Communication” with 0.8%. On the other hand, prices in the “Transport” group decreased by 0.8%.

In December 2025, the monthly change measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices is +0.6%. This change was mainly influenced by the increase in prices of the group “Food and non-alcoholic beverages” by 1.0%, followed by the groups “Alcoholic beverages and tobacco” by 0.7%, Rent, water, fuel and energy” and “Miscellaneous goods and services” by 0.5% each, “Clothing and footwear”, “Entertainment and culture” and “Hotels, cafes and restaurants” by 0.4% each and “Furniture, household equipment and maintenance” by 0.2%. On the other hand, prices of the group “Communication” decreased by 0.1%.

The CPI contains 332 items; the HCI contains 331 items (imputed rent is not an element of the basket).

The average inflation in the EU was 2.3% in December 2025. Spain, Greece, Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Poland, Malta and Portugal are positioned very close to this level.

At the top of the list is Romania, with an annual growth rate significantly higher than all other countries, around 8.5%. Romania is followed by a group of Central and Eastern European countries, such as Slovakia, Estonia, Iceland, Austria, Croatia and Bulgaria, where inflation is mainly fluctuating between 3% and 4%. These levels are significantly above the European Union average, reflecting higher sensitivity to energy prices, food and domestic cost pressures. Countries such as Latvia, Hungary, Luxembourg and Lithuania also remain above 3%, although with a more moderate trend.

Belgium, Cyprus, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Finland all have inflation rates below the EU average, with France and Switzerland falling even lower, close to or below 1%. Cyprus is at the bottom of the list, with inflation at almost zero, which indicates a very calm price environment, but which may also raise questions about the dynamics of domestic demand./Monitor.al