Cost of living in North Macedonia up 2.6% in August 2026, retail prices +2.3%
Annual increase in the cost‑of‑living index was 2.6% in August 2026; monthly inflation measured by the index was 0.4% vs July.
The cost of living in North Macedonia rose by 2.6 percent in August 2026 compared with the same month a year earlier, while the retail price index was 2.3 percent higher year‑on‑year, the State Statistical Office reported on 7 September 2026. Monthly inflation measured by the cost‑of‑living index stood at 0.4 percent in August compared with July.
Which categories pushed prices up
On an annual basis the largest increase was recorded for alcoholic beverages and tobacco, up 9.4 percent; that group showed no change compared with the previous month. The recreation, sports and culture category was the next fastest‑rising, increasing 8.8 percent over the year.
Food and non‑alcoholic beverages became 1.0 percent more expensive than a year earlier, with a monthly rise of 0.5 percent in August. Housing, water and electricity costs were 3.8 percent higher in August compared with August last year.
Services for education rose by 5.0 percent year‑on‑year, while restaurant and accommodation services were up 4.8 percent. The State Statistical Office noted that no sector showed a decline on an annual basis.
On a monthly basis, however, some costs eased: clothing and footwear fell by 0.3 percent and transport prices were 0.8 percent lower compared with July. The retail price index decreased 0.2 percent month‑on‑month in August.
Within the retail breakdown, the largest monthly increases were recorded for non‑food industrial products and tobacco (+0.9 percent) and for food products (+0.4 percent). Services posted the largest monthly fall (‑1.4 percent), while prices of agricultural products dropped 0.6 percent in August.
Photo: press material from the event
