19.11.202510:32:29UTC+00Malta Inflation Rate Edges Up in October

Malta's annual inflation rate slightly increased to 2.5% in October 2025 from a six-month low of 2.4% in September. The rise was primarily driven by higher costs in several sectors: housing and utilities saw prices rise at a notably faster rate (1.6% from 0.7% in September), as did transportation (3.2% from 2.3%), and recreation and culture (3.3% from 2.4%). The restaurant and hotel industries also experienced accelerated price growth (3.7% from 3.4%), alongside miscellaneous goods and services (3.8% from 3.7%). Meanwhile, price changes remained stable for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (1.7%) and the health sector (2.8%).

Conversely, the rate of price increases eased in other areas, such as food and non-alcoholic beverages (slipping to 3.3% from 3.6%), furnishings, household equipment, and routine maintenance (down to 1.3% from 1.7%), and education (declining to 4.3% from 5.2%). Notably, deflation persisted in clothing and footwear, with prices falling further (-2.9% compared to -0.7%), as well as in communication (-4.0% from -3.4%). On a month-to-month basis, consumer prices decreased by 0.9% in October, showing some relief from the previous month's sharper 1.3% reduction.