Figures from the National Statistical Service of Greece (ELSTAT) showed that the consumer price index rose 0.2% in May after remaining unchanged in April. Economists had expected a 0.1% decrease. In annual terms, consumer prices rose 2.5%, accelerating compared to April (+2.0%) and recording the strongest growth since February. Consensus estimates suggested an increase of 2.2% per annum. The average CPI for the 12-month period from June 2024 to May 2025 increased by 2.5% per annum.
ELSTAT said that the growth in monthly terms was due to higher prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages (+0.1%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (+1.4%), clothing and footwear (+2.7%), housing (+1.9%), recreation and culture (+0.3%), hotel-cafés-restaurants (+0.5%) and for miscellaneous goods and services (+0.5%). On the other hand, prices fell for transport (-2.4%).
The data also showed that in May, the harmonized index of consumer prices (HICP) - an indicator that allows to compare inflation in Greece with inflation in European countries – rose by 0.4% on a monthly basis and by 3.3% per year. The average HICP for the 12-month period from June 2024 to May 2025 increased by 3.0% per year.