Belgium's annual inflation rate edged up to 3.56% in July 2026 from 3.4% in the previous month. Energy inflation accelerated slightly to 10.6% from 10.3%, while electricity prices rose at a faster pace (7.9% vs 6.2%). Additional upward pressure came from housing and utilities (4.6% vs 3.6%), driven in part by faster rent inflation (3.4% vs 3.2%), as well as recreation and culture (8.3% vs 8.1%), health (6.7% vs 6.6%), and insurance and financial services (2% vs 1.8%). Meanwhile, inflation eased for transport (5.5% vs 7.9%), restaurants and hotels (4.1% vs 5.9%), clothing and footwear (1.2% vs 2.3%), furnishings (0.1% vs 0.4%), and information and communication (1.6% vs 1.9%). Food prices fell 0.12% after rising 1.2% in June. On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 0.63%, up from a 0.3% rise in the previous month.