Portugal July 2026 inflation eases to 3.0% as energy and food pressures soften

Annual consumer price growth slowed for a third straight month, but core inflation edged higher and the EU-harmonized rate stayed at 3.1%, remaining above the European Central Bank's 2.0% target.

Summary

Portugal’s annual inflation rate slowed to 3.0% in July 2026, easing for a third consecutive month, according to a preliminary estimate. The moderation was driven by softer energy inflation, which eased to 8.7% from 9.1%, and slower food price growth, with unprocessed food inflation falling to 3.7% from 5.1%. Underlying price pressures strengthened slightly, however, as core inflation, which excludes energy and unprocessed food, rose to 2.6% from 2.5%. Meanwhile, the EU-harmonized inflation rate was unchanged at 3.1%, hovering near its highest level in two years and remaining well above the European Central Bank’s 2.0% target.

Terms & Concepts
  • core inflation: A measure of price growth that excludes more volatile categories such as energy and unprocessed food.
  • EU-harmonized inflation rate: An inflation measure compiled on a common EU basis to allow price comparisons across member states.
  • European Central Bank's 2.0% target: The inflation objective the ECB aims to maintain over the medium term for the euro zone.