Bulgaria recorded the third-highest inflation rate in the eurozone in August, as annual consumer price growth accelerated to 5.1% from 4.4% in July, according to Eurostat's preliminary estimate based on the harmonized index of consumer prices.
Only Lithuania and Cyprus reported higher inflation among eurozone countries. Annual price growth reached 5.8% in Lithuania and 5.2% in Cyprus. Bulgaria was followed by Spain at 4.5%, Belgium at 4.2% and Luxembourg at 4.0%.
Price pressures in Bulgaria also strengthened on a monthly basis, with consumer prices rising 0.8% in August. The increase marked a reversal after inflation had gradually eased during the previous months.
The latest figures show that Bulgaria's inflation remains well above the eurozone average. Annual inflation across the currency bloc rose from 2.9% in July to 3.3% in August, leaving Bulgaria's rate 1.8 percentage points higher.
The eurozone's acceleration was driven primarily by energy prices. Energy costs were 14.3% higher in August than a year earlier, compared with annual growth of 10.3% in July.
