Inflation in the Czech Republic edged up again in June. Consumer prices increased by 0.3 per cent month-on-month and by 2.9 per cent year-on-year. The rise was driven mainly by higher food and fuel prices, according to the latest data from the Czech Statistical Office.
Year-on-year inflation reached its highest level since December 2024, up 0.5 percentage points from May. Food and fuel costs were once again the main contributors to the upward trend.
The most significant increase was recorded in the leisure and culture sector, where seasonally higher prices for package holidays (+2.4%) had a notable effect. Housing costs also continued to climb, with rents rising by an average of 0.7 per cent. In the transport sector, fuel and oil prices went up by 1.0 per cent, while car prices increased by 0.4 per cent.
In the food category, meat prices rose by 2.0 per cent, butter by 7.7 per cent, and milk by 3.3 per cent. Chocolate also became more expensive (+2.4%). In contrast, prices for spirits (-1.2%), fruit (-3.0%) and vegetables (-1.9%) declined. Overall, the prices of goods rose by 0.1 per cent, and services by 0.5 per cent.
Strongest increase since December
Compared to June 2024, consumer prices rose by 2.9 per cent. Pavla Šedivá from the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ) attributed the increase mainly to higher food prices and a lower base level from the previous year.
The price surge was particularly stark for butter, which jumped by 24.7 per cent year-on-year (May: +20.4%). Milk (+13.1%), non-alcoholic beverages (+8.1%), meat (+5.9%) and chocolate (+26.3%) also recorded steep increases. Egg prices soared by 40.4 per cent, while coffee rose by 29.2 per cent and cocoa by 27.3 per cent.
In the housing sector, rents rose by 6.3 per cent, while electricity prices fell by 4.8 per cent and gas by 7.8 per cent year-on-year. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco also became more expensive – particularly tobacco products (+7.2%). Wine, however, was slightly cheaper (-0.9%).
Recreational and cultural services saw an average increase of 5.6 per cent, while package holidays rose by 6.9 per cent. In the hospitality sector, prices for catering services went up by 4.3 per cent, and accommodation by 7.9 per cent.
Inflation slightly above EU average
Average inflation over the past twelve months, compared to the same period a year earlier, was 2.6 per cent. Excluding imputed rent (owner-occupied housing), the index stood at 102.7 per cent.
According to preliminary data from the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), inflation in the Czech Republic was 2.8 per cent in June – above the eurozone average of 2.0 per cent. Germany also recorded 2.0 per cent, while Slovakia reached 4.6 per cent. Estonia had the highest inflation in the EU at 5.2 per cent, and Cyprus the lowest at just 0.5 per cent.
