Inflation in Malta rises to 2.4% in April as food and transport lead the surge

Malta’s annual inflation rate rose to 2.4 per cent in April 2025, up from 2.1 per cent the previous month, according to newly published data from the National Statistics Office (NSO). The increase was primarily driven by rising costs in food, transport, and personal care.

The most significant contributor to the annual inflation rate was the Food Index, which added 0.73 percentage points to the overall figure. This was largely due to price increases in restaurant services and take-aways. The Transport and Communication Index followed with a 0.55-point contribution, driven by higher air transport costs. Personal care and health also played a role, adding 0.28 points on the back of more expensive hygienic articles.

Notably, beverages and tobacco registered the highest annual inflation rate among all categories at 3.8 per cent, led by a sharp 5.0 per cent increase in beverage prices. Meanwhile, water, electricity, gas and fuels remained unchanged for the month, recording 0.0 per cent inflation, offering some stability amid broader price increases.

On a month-to-month basis, the RPI rose by 0.8 per cent from March to April, reinforcing the upward inflationary trend. The 12-month moving average stood at 1.6 per cent.

While inflation has remained relatively modest compared to the peaks seen in 2022, the latest figures signal ongoing pressure on household budgets, especially in areas like food and transport, which represent significant portions of consumer spending.