SSO: Inflation in North Macedonia reached 3.3%, transport costs rose 9.5% over the year

Inflation in North Macedonia stood at 3.3 percent in October compared with the same month last year. According to data from the State Statistical Office, consumer prices rose by 0.4 percent from September, while food, clothing and some basic household expenses became more expensive again.

The office reported that the consumer price index for October 2026 was 0.4 percent higher than in September of the same year, Faktor reports.

Compared with October a year earlier, transport recorded the largest increase among the main categories, at 9.5 percent. However, prices in this group fell by 0.3 percent during October.

Recreation, sport and culture became 8.5 percent more expensive year on year. Alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics rose by 7.8 percent, while education services cost 5.6 percent more than in October last year. Restaurants and accommodation recorded an annual increase of 4.9 percent, despite prices falling during the month.

Spending on housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels rose by 0.3 percent from September and by 3.7 percent year on year. Food and non-alcoholic beverages became 0.7 percent more expensive during the month and 2.1 percent more expensive compared with the same period last year.

Year on year, clothing and footwear cost 2.6 percent more. Personal care, social protection, and miscellaneous goods and services rose by 2.1 percent, while household goods and equipment, along with their routine maintenance, increased by 1.2 percent. Healthcare became 1.3 percent more expensive, while insurance and financial services rose by 0.3 percent. Information and communication was the only group to record an annual decline, at 0.1 percent.

The strongest monthly increase was recorded for alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics, at 2.5 percent. Clothing and footwear, as well as recreation, sport and culture, rose by 1.2 percent, while healthcare increased by 0.1 percent.

By contrast, furniture and household equipment fell by 1.3 percent. Prices for restaurant and accommodation services dropped by 0.7 percent, while personal care, social protection, and miscellaneous goods and services fell by 0.5 percent. According to the State Statistical Office, the cost of education services, insurance and financial services, and information and communication remained unchanged from the previous month.