What euro area country reported the highest annual inflation rate in September 2026?

Lithuania reported the highest annual inflation rate in the euro area in September 2026, at 6.1%, the latest flash estimate from Eurostat has revealed.

Other euro area countries to report a high annual inflation rate for the month included Bulgaria (5.6%), Cyprus (5.2%) and Luxembourg (5.2%).

At the other end of the scale, the lowest annual inflation rate was seen in Malta (2.4%), followed by Finland (2.6%) and Latvia (2.9%), Eurostat noted.

Euro area inflation

Across the euro area, annual inflation is expected to have risen to 3.8% in September 2026, up from 3.2% in August, according to the flash estimates.

The increase was driven largely by higher energy inflation, which is estimated to have reached 18.8% in September, compared with 14.3% in August.

Services inflation also increased, rising to 3.2% from 3.0%, while food, alcohol and tobacco inflation rose to 1.4% from 1.1%. By contrast, inflation for non-energy industrial goods eased to 1.1% from 1.2%.

Underlying inflation measures were more stable. Annual inflation excluding energy is estimated at 2.3%, compared with 2.1% in August, Eurostat noted.

Excluding energy and unprocessed food, the rate is estimated at 2.2%, while inflation excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco is estimated at 2.5%, compared with 2.4% in August.

The flash estimate is based on the first available information from euro area countries. Eurostat said the complete set of harmonised consumer price indices for September will be released on 16 October.

Inflation Rates across Europe, September 2026

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