Euro area inflation rises to 3.8 per cent in September
Energy made the largest contribution to the annual rate, while inflation increased in 23 EU member states compared with August.
Annual inflation in the euro area reached 3.8 per cent in September 2026, compared with 3.2 per cent in August, Eurostat said. The EU’s annual rate also rose from 3.2 per cent to 3.8 per cent. In September 2025, the respective rates were 2.2 per cent and 2.6 per cent.
Energy accounted for 1.71 percentage points of the euro area’s September annual inflation rate, followed by services at 1.52 percentage points. Industrial goods excluding energy contributed 0.29 percentage points, while food, alcohol and tobacco added 0.25 percentage points.
Among EU countries, Sweden had the lowest annual inflation rate at 1.0 per cent. Hungary and Denmark each recorded 2.1 per cent. At the other end, Romania’s rate stood at 6.5 per cent, Lithuania’s at 6.1 per cent and Bulgaria’s at 5.6 per cent. Annual inflation increased in 23 member states, was unchanged in three and declined in one compared with August.
The euro area figure matched Eurostat’s preliminary estimate published on 2 October 2026. Its next preliminary reading, covering October 2026, is scheduled for 4 November 2026.
