2025.09.1209:23:18UTC+00Montenegro Inflation Rate at 15-Month High

In August 2025, Montenegro experienced a slight increase in its annual inflation rate, rising to 4.6% from 4.5% in July. This represents the highest rate recorded since May 2025. The increase is largely attributed to the rising prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, which saw a hike to 5.5% from 5.2% the previous month. Similarly, the cost of alcoholic beverages and tobacco rose to 6.1% from 5.8%, while housing and utilities saw an increase to 7.2% from 6.9%. The health sector also experienced a rise in costs, increasing to 13.1% from 12.8%.

Transportation costs, which had previously seen a decrease, rebounded to 0.5% from -0.3%. There was a moderated decrease in clothing and footwear prices, which saw a marginal improvement, shifting to -3.3% from -3.4%. Meanwhile, there was a deceleration in price increases for furnishings, household equipment, and routine maintenance, which dropped to 3.7% from 4.3%, as well as for miscellaneous goods and services, which decreased to 4.2% from 5.3%.

The communications sector experienced a price drop to -0.1% from 1.5%, while prices in recreation and culture alongside education remained stable at 8.2% and 0.9%, respectively. On a month-over-month basis, consumer prices rose by 0.5% in August, a slight deceleration compared to the 0.6% increase observed in July.