Inflation in May 3.5 %, the highest rose price of restaurants and hotels

Consumer prices in Croatia were 3.5 percent higher than the same month in May, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) announced on Monday, which accelerated the inflation annually.

The CBS announced the second estimate of the consumer prices index, according to which in May, the inflation rate was 3.5 percent compared to May 2024, while compared to the previous month, that is, April this year, consumer prices increased by 0.3 percent.

In doing so, the CBS confirmed its first estimate, published on June 3, about the movement of inflation annually, while slightly corrected its rate at a monthly basis, which was 0.4 percent according to the first estimate.

Thus, after it was four percent in January, in February 3.7, in March and April 3.2 percent, inflation in May accelerated its growth annually.

Restaurant prices and hotels annually rose nine percent

Obviously according to the main groups of EcoCop classification, on an annual basis, the highest increase in consumer prices was on average achieved in the category of restaurants and hotels, nine percent. Following are various good and services with 6.2 percent, recreation and culture with 5.8 percent, food and non -alcoholic beverages with 5.7 percent, categories of residence, water, electricity, gas and other fuels increased by 5.6 percent, education by 5.3 percent and health by 5.1 percent. There is also a category of alcoholic beverages and tobacco, with an average price growth by 1.8 percent, and communications, with a growth of 0.1 percent.

The decline was recorded annually in three categories – 1.9 percent transportation, clothing and wrap by 1.7 percent and that furniture, home equipment and regular household maintenance, by 0.2 percent.

According to the main components of the index (special aggregates), in the component of the services, the increase in prices on an annual basis was 6.2 percent. Food, drinks and tobacco prices have increased by 5.1 percent, energy by 1.5 percent, and industrial non-food products without energy by 0.1 percent, CBS said.

Food prices and non -alcoholic beverages on a monthly level rose by 1.4 percent

On a monthly basis, CBS statistics showed, most of all, food prices and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 1.4 percent. The following are restaurants and hotels with 1.3 percent, categories of recreation and culture and various goods and services increased by 0.6 percent each, communication by 0.5 percent, health by 0.3 percent, etc.

On the other hand, transport prices have fallen by 0.8 percent, clothing and footwear by 0.7 percent, and in the category of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels by 0.3 percent.

According to the main components of the index, at a monthly level, the increase in prices was realized in food, drinks and tobacco, by 1.2 percent, and services, by 0.6 percent. On the other hand, energy is recorded by the price drop by 1.2 percent, while the prices of industrial non-food products without energy remained on average at the same level, the DZS data.

Hipc – Annual level inflation 4.3 percent

The CBS statement on consumer prices index also presents information on inflation measured by a harmonized consumer prices (HIPC) index, which is a comparable measure of inflation with EU countries.

According to these data, the prices of goods and services for personal consumption in May compared to April 2025. On average, they were more by 0.5 percent, while in May 2024 they increased by 4.3 percent.