VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s cost of living continued to rise in April, with the annual inflation rate increasing to 2.8%, up from 2.7% in March, according to new figures published by the National Statistics Office.
Higher food prices were the biggest driver of inflation, contributing 0.85 percentage points to the overall rate. Rising vegetable prices led the increase, while restaurant and takeaway meals also became more expensive, climbing 5.7% over the past year.
Housing costs added further pressure on household budgets, contributing 0.46 percentage points. Annual housing inflation reached 5.8%, fuelled by sharp rises in home maintenance materials and services, while rents rose by 3.2%.
Transport and communication costs also pushed inflation higher, mainly due to more expensive air travel.
The only sector offering some relief was clothing and footwear, where prices fell by 4.3%, slightly offsetting overall inflation. Utility prices, including water, electricity and gas, remained unchanged.
Although inflation is well below its 2022 peak of 7.5%, the latest figures show a renewed upward trend in 2026, with prices rising steadily from 2.5% in January to 2.8% in April.
The 12-month moving average inflation rate for April stood at 2.6%, signalling continued pressure on consumers.
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(ITALPRESS).
