VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s annual inflation rate held at 2.7% in October 2025, with new data from the National Statistics Office confirming food costs as the strongest source of price pressures. The Food Index contributed 0.80 percentage points to the overall rate, remaining the largest driver of inflation. Restaurant services and take-aways registered a 6.1% annual rise—more than double the 2.9% increase in grocery prices—pushing overall food inflation to 3.7%. The 12-month moving average rose to 2.1%, continuing an upward trend from the 1.2% low seen in late 2024, though far below the 7.5% peak of October 2023. Other Goods and Services posted the highest annual inflation at 5.0%, fuelled by an 18.8% jump in jewellery and similar items, contributing 0.36 percentage points.
Transport and Communication added 0.37 percentage points, while Housing contributed 0.22 points amid rising maintenance service costs. The all-items index reached 123.17, up 0.7% from September. Clothing and Footwear exerted the only downward pull on inflation, with prices falling 1.2% due mainly to cheaper garments. Utility prices remained frozen for another month, with Water, Electricity, Gas and Fuels recording no annual change. Communication costs dipped 0.4%. The NSO noted a widening gap within food categories, with services continuing to outpace goods. Smaller positive contributions came from Personal Care and Health, Recreation and Culture, Furnishings and Household Equipment, and Beverages and Tobacco.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
