Euro zone consumer price growth picked up pace in March 2026, with the year-over-year Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising to 2.5%, up from 1.9% in February. The latest reading, updated on 31 March 2026, shows inflation moving further above the previous month’s rate on an annual comparison basis.
Both the current and previous figures are measured year-over-year, comparing each month with the same month a year earlier. February’s 1.9% reading marked a more moderate inflation environment, but the March jump to 2.5% signals renewed price pressures across the currency bloc.
The data will likely sharpen focus on the trajectory of inflation in the euro area, as markets and policymakers assess whether the March rise represents a temporary bump or the start of a more persistent reacceleration in prices.