BUDAPEST, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Hungary's consumer price index (CPI) rose by an average of 4.4 percent in 2025, according to data released by the country's Central Statistical Office (KSH) on Tuesday.
In December alone, consumer prices grew by 3.3 percent year-on-year, while increasing 0.1 percent compared to the previous month.
The KSH report detailed that over the past 12 months, the highest price hikes were seen in electricity, gas, and other fuels, which surged by 8.9 percent. This was followed by a 7.1 percent rise in alcoholic beverages and tobacco, and a 6.8 percent increase in services.
Food prices edged up by 2.6 percent, while a significant 8.6 percent drop in motor fuel prices helped temper overall inflationary pressures.
In a statement following the data release, the Ministry for National Economy said the government will maintain measures to curb price increases. This includes extending and expanding price margin caps on selected products until Feb. 28, 2026.
The ministry added that these interventions have been effective, noting that prices in affected categories have dropped by more than 20 percent on average.
Janos Nagy, a macroeconomic analyst at Erste Bank, said that while headline inflation is slowing, underlying pressures remain "mixed." He pointed out that service prices rose sharply in December, exceeding typical seasonal patterns.
Nagy also warned that strong wage growth and administrative price controls could mask structural inflation, potentially complicating future monetary policy easing. ■