The annual inflation rate rose for the second month to 4.5% in September 2026 from 4.4% in August, but below the expected 4.7%. The acceleration was largely driven by rising transport prices, which climbed further by 10.8%, up from 8.8% in August, largely reflecting a sharper increase in fuel prices, which surged by 27.9%, compared with 20% in the previous month. The core inflation, which excludes prices of food, non-alcoholic beverages, fuel and energy, edged down to 4.0% in September from 4.1% in August. On a monthly basis, the CPI went up by 0.4%, after being flat in the previous month.