The National Bureau of Statistics informs that, in March 2026, the average consumer prices increased:

• compared to February 2026 by 1.3% (the monthly consumer price index amounted to 101.3%);

• compared to December 2025 by 2.7% (the consumer price index since thebeginning of the current year amounted to 102.7%);

• compared to March 2025 by 5.8% (the consumer price index in the last 12 months amounted to 105.8%).

Monthly inflation

In March 2026, compared to February 2026, the increase in average consumer prices by 1.3% (Table 1) was driven by higher prices for:

• food products, which rose by about 1.0%, contributing to an increase in average consumer prices by 0.3%;
• non-food products, which increased by about 2.5%, contributing to an increase in average consumer prices by 0.9%;
• services provided to the population, which increased by about 0.2%.

During the analyzed period, more pronounced price increases for food products were recorded for vegetables – by 6.9%, and fruits – by 2.5%.

At the same time, the average consumer prices for eggs decreased by 3.6%, for sugar – by 0.4%.

For non-food products, during the reporting period, more significant increases in average consumer prices were recorded for fuels and lubricants – by 12.8% (including diesel fuel – by 31.1%, liquefied gas – by 15.0%, and petrol – by 14.2%).

For services provided to the population, during the analyzed period the average prices increased for water supply and sewerage services – by 2.9%, passenger transport services – by 0.7%, and catering services – by 0.5%.

At the same time, in March compared to the current February, the regulated tariffs decreased for the supply of thermal energy⁹ – by 8.2% and for natural gas⁹ – by 1.7%.

Inflation since the beginning of the year

Average consumer prices in March 2026 compared to December 2025 (since the beginning of the current year) increased by about 2.7%, including food products – by 4.1% and non-food products – by 3.5%. Average consumer prices for services provided to the population decreased by 0.2% since the beginning of the year.

Annual inflation

Average consumer prices in March 2026, compared to March 2025 (over the last 12 months), increased by 5.8%. On an annual basis, average prices increased by 6.3% for food products, by 4.8% for non-food products, and by 6.6% for services provided to the population (Table 1).

For food products, over the last 12 months, the most pronounced price increases were recorded for eggs – by 40.7%, fruits – by 16.5%, vegetables – by 12.2%, bread – by 5.7%, vegetable oil – by 4.8%, meat, meat products and canned meat – by 4.2%, milk and dairy products – by 4.1%.

At the same time, compared to the same month of the previous year, sugar prices decreased by about 4.6%.

For non-food products, average consumer prices increased by about 4.8% compared to March 2025, with more significant increases recorded for fuels and lubricants – by 11.8% (including diesel fuel – by 31.6% and petrol – by 13.8%), footwear – by 5.2%, clothing – by 5.0%, construction materials – by 4.2% and medicines – by 3.0%.

For services provided to the population, average consumer prices increased by 6.6% over the last 12 months. The most significant increases compared to March 2025 were recorded for water supply and sewerage services – by 19.8%, electricity – by 16.4%, passenger transport services – by 9.8%, catering services – by 9.5%.

At the same time, compared to March of the previous year, regulated tariffs decreased for the supply of thermal energy – by 17.0% and for natural gas supply services – by 13.9%.

Table 1. Inflation rate in March 2026³

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CPI data for goods and services, at the division level, according to the international COICOP¹¹ classification, are presented in Table 2.

Table 2. CPI in March 2026, by goods and services divisions, according to the COICOP classification

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The evolution of the Consumer Price Index in the Republic of Moldova for the period 2015 - 2026 can be viewed using an interactive dashboard Consumer Price Index - interactive dashboard, available on the NBS website. It allows users to dynamically and interactively explore the data by year, month, and groups of goods and services.

The statistical release on the evolution of consumer prices in April 2026 will be disseminated on May 11, 2026.

Notes:

¹ The information is presented without the data for the districts on the left side of the Dniester and the municipality of Bender.

² The CPI data rounded to two decimal places are available in Tables 1–2. At the same time, in the text of the press release, the CPI data are presented rounded to one decimal place to facilitate the presentation of information.

³ Table 1 includes information on the inflation rate for 3 major groups of goods and services, as well as for some representative groups, aggregated according to the national classification used for the calculation of the CPI:

• the major group "Food products" includes milling and bakery products, meat, meat preparations and preserves, fish and canned fish, milk and dairy products, eggs, fats, fresh fruits, other fruits and preserves, vegetables, potatoes, sweets and spices, non-alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages.
• the major group "Non-food products" includes cigarettes, fabrics, clothing, knitwear, footwear, furniture, means of transport and auto parts, printed editions, fuels, other goods.
• the major group "Services" includes education services, communal and housing services, public catering, health services, car repair services, transport services, and other services.

⁴ According to the Methodology for calculating the Consumer Price Index, the expenditure weights are estimated by applying the geometric average of the population's monetary expenditure according to the Household Budget Survey and the data on the final consumption of households at the level of COICOP classes from the National Accounts for the year "t-2". Thus, starting with January 2026, the CPI calculations are made using the weighting coefficients calculated based on data for 2024.

⁵ The heading 'vegetables' (in Table 1) includes fresh, frozen and pickled vegetables at the stage of biological maturity, canned vegetables and vegetable by-products and does not include potatoes.

⁶ The heading 'fruit' (in Table 1) includes grapes, other fresh fruits, but excludes frozen fruits, dried fruits and berries, nuts, fruit kernels and edible seeds.

⁷ The heading ”Fuels and lubricants” (in Table 1) includes liquefied gases, solid fuels (charcoal, wood, briquettes, pellets, etc.), diesel, petrol, other fuels for private vehicles, lubricants.

⁸ According to the Methodology for calculating the Consumer Price Index, when estimating the effective average prices/tariffs for the provision of natural gas, electricity and thermal energy supply services, etc., the actual price paid by household consumers is taken into account, including subsidies granted by the Government for the payment of energy bills (reflected therein). It should also be noted that energy subsidies granted by the Government for the cold season of the year (for natural gas, thermal energy, electricity or solid fuel) to eligible households, provided in monetary form (which are not reflected in the invoice for the respective energy consumption), are not taken into account in the compilation of the CPI.

⁹ When calculating the average tariffs for natural gas supply for March 2026, the reduction in regulated tariffs for natural gas supply, which entered into force on 4 February 2026, was taken into account. When calculating the average tariffs for thermal energy supply for March 2026, the reduction in regulated tariffs for thermal energy supply, which entered into force on 13 February 2026, was taken into account.

¹⁰ The heading "medical services" (in Table 1) includes consultations and treatments provided in the medical sector, both outpatient (family doctors, specialists, dentists) and hospital (admissions, surgery, general and specialized hospital services).

¹¹ COICOP - Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose. Section A "Individual consumption expenditure by destination" (divisions 1 to 12) as of January 2021 has been harmonized at category level (5 digits) with the European Classification of Individual Consumption by Destinations (ECOICOP 2013).

¹² The 'Health' Division (in Table 2), in addition to outpatient and hospital medical services, also includes pharmaceuticals, medical articles and equipment.

¹³ The 'Transport' division (in Table 2), in addition to passenger transport services, also includes the purchase of vehicles, spare parts and accessories, and fuel.

¹⁴ The ”Communications” Division (in Table 2), in addition to telecommunications services, also includes telephone equipment.

Methodological clarifications:

The monthly inflation rate (monthly inflation) represents the increase in consumer prices in a given month compared to the previous month. It is calculated as the geometric average of the monthly chain-based consumer price indices from which the basis of comparison equal to 100 is subtracted.

The annual inflation rate (annual inflation) represents the increase in consumer prices in a given month of the current year, compared with the same month of the previous year. It is calculated as a percentage ratio between the price index of a month of the current year and the index of the corresponding month of the previous year, calculated against the same base, from which 100 is subtracted.

The average annual inflation rate (average annual inflation) represents the average increase in consumer prices over a year compared with the previous year. This rate is calculated as a ratio, expressed as a percentage, between the average price index of a year and that of the previous year, minus 100.

More methodological details can be obtained in:

• Methodology for calculating the Consumer Price Index in the Republic of Moldova
• Reference Metadata / Consumer Price Index
• Concepts and definitions / Consumer Price Index
• Nomenclature of representative goods and services included in selective research for the calculation of CPI

Additional relevant information:

• Statistical Database / Economic Statistics / Prices / Consumer Price Indices
• Consumer Price Index Calculator
• Consumer Price Index - interactive dashboard
• Calendar for electronic dissemination of statistical information in 2026