New challenges in consumer price growth – Alpha Economics
March 06 2026, 18:00
In February 2026, consumer prices rose by 4.3%. Inflation accelerated. This trend is further confirmed by the fact that January also saw price increases compared to December of the previous year. December, partly due to demand for holiday purchases, was a month of rising prices, and it was assumed that in January there would be a slight decline. However, this did not happen, and in fact inflation continued into February. In February, consumer prices compared to December rose by 2.5%.
According to research on specific product groups, food prices increased by 6.5%, beverages by 10.3%. Healthcare, education, and transportation costs also went up. The sharp rise in food prices is particularly concerning.
Specifically, bakery products rose by 3.5%, dairy products by 10.1%, eggs by 19.2%, butter by 6.7%, and so on. On one hand, this raises concerns about deepening social problems. On the other hand, given current events in the Middle East and their possible impact on the global economy—including likely inflation—we will not remain unaffected by these consequences.
An exemplary tool for combating ongoing inflation is stable and universal indexation of household incomes in line with rising prices. Meanwhile, we have not witnessed the implementation of such a policy.
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