EU inflation accelerates in September, Czech rates rise and Romania tops the surge

Eurostat, employing harmonised figures for EU comparison, noted that inflation accelerated in September both across the European Union and in the Czech Republic, while the Czech Statistical Office released its national data separately. Romania posted the highest year-on-year price growth among member states, followed by Lithuania and Bulgaria. Inflation in the euro area has remained above the European Central Bank's target for several months, prompting the bank to raise interest rates by a quarter point.

The surge is being fueled by higher oil and gas costs linked to the Middle East conflict. Compared with August 2026, inflation fell in one country, stayed unchanged in three, and increased in twenty-three members.