Prices are rising again across Europe, but pay is not keeping up.
Inflation in the EU reached 3.2% in April 2026, its highest level since January 2024, and Eurostat's flash estimates suggest prices continued to climb in May.
However, wage growth in salaries advertised in job postings across the eurozone are not keeping pace with inflation, according to Indeed. That means inflation is outpacing posted wage growth across Europe, weighing heavily on workers' purchasing power, with earnings buying less than before.
The latest inflationary pressures come after the EU experienced its biggest price shock in decades. Annual inflation surged to more than 11% in 2022, driven largely by soaring energy costs following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
So, how do inflation and posted wage growth compare across major European economies?
