BUDAPEST, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Hungary's consumer prices rose by 4.3 percent year-on-year in August, unchanged from July, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said on Tuesday.
Food prices increased by 5.9 percent compared to August 2024, with notable rises for eggs (19.9 percent), coffee (18.5 percent) and chocolate and cocoa (18.3 percent). Seasonal produce such as fruits and vegetables rose 17.1 percent, while margarine, flour and sugar saw double-digit declines.
Energy costs rose 11 percent, largely due to a 23.2 percent increase in natural gas prices. Service prices climbed 5.4 percent, driven by higher rents and vehicle maintenance.
The Ministry for National Economy said government price-control measures helped cut average prices in drugstores by 26.5 percent and in food stores by 20 percent, reducing inflation by 1.6 percentage points.
Janos Nagy, macro analyst at Erste Bank, said the figures were in line with expectations, noting that core inflation eased slightly to 3.9 percent.
He warned that pre-election welfare measures could add pressure in the coming months, adding that annual inflation is expected to remain between 4 and 5 percent for the rest of the year. ■
