The annual inflation rate in the Eurozone increased again in May 2026, fueled by ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East. Eurostat, the EU’s statistical agency, reported on Tuesday that the inflation rate was estimated at 3.2 percent, up from 3.0 percent in April. This amounted to a 0.1 percent rise compared to the previous month.
The specialized measure known as “core inflation”-which excludes price changes in energy, food, alcohol, and tobacco-was recorded at 2.5 percent in May, an increase from 2.2 percent in April. The European Central Bank (ECB) closely monitors this core rate as it relates to its goal of maintaining and achieving a two percent inflation level.
Looking at the primary components driving inflation in the Eurozone, the “Energy” sector was expected to have the highest annual rate in May, reaching 10.9 percent (up from 10.8 percent in April). Following energy were “Services” (3.5 percent compared to 3.0 percent in April), “Food, Alcohol, and Tobacco” (2.0 percent down from 2.4 percent in April), and “Industrial Goods without Energy” (0.9 percent versus 0.8 percent in April).
In terms of country disparities, Eurostat recorded the lowest inflation rate in Malta at 2.1 percent. Conversely, Bulgaria registered a rate of 6.3 percent according to the statistical body. For Germany, Eurostat calculated the inflation rate at 2.7 percent, a figure derived using a different methodology than the one reported by the Federal Statistical Office, which had announced a rate of 2.6 percent on Friday.
