Istat data

Inflation: Istat estimates +1.2% in April, +2.8% year-on-year. Sharp rise in energy prices

The statistical agency published the provisional estimate of consumer prices for April 2026. In Eurozone inflation in April doubles weight of energy, +10.9%

by Rome Editorial Staff

30 April 2026

L’Istat ha reso nota la stima provvisoria dei prezzi al consumo di aprile 2026 InfiniteStudio - stock.adobe.com

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Versione italiana

Key points

Severe rise in energy prices
Slow down core inflation
Year-on-year increase in shopping trolley prices

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

According to preliminary ISTAT estimates, in April 2026, the national consumer price index for the entire community (NIC), before tobacco, changed by +1.2% on a monthly basis and +2.8% on an annual basis (from +1.7% in the previous month). 

Sharp rise in energy prices

Inflation dynamics mainly reflected the sharp rise in prices of Unregulated energy products (from -2.0% to +9.9%), of Regulated energy products (from -1.6% to +5.7%) and the acceleration of prices of unprocessed food (from +4.7% to +6.0%); prices for recreational, cultural and personal care services (from +3.0% to +2.6%) and transport-related services (from +2.2% to +0.5%) slowed.

Slowing core inflation

In April 'core inflation', net of energy and fresh food, slowed down (from +1.9% to +1.6%), as did inflation net of energy goods only (from +2.1% to +2.0%).

A partial dampening effect on inflation growth is due to the price dynamics of some types of services, including recreational, cultural and personal care services (+3.0% from +2.6%).

Year-on-year increase in shopping trolley prices

The year-on-year growth of 'shopping cart' prices was +2.5% (from +2.2%), while core inflation fell to +1.6% (from +1.9%). Acquired inflation in April was +2.4% for 2026.

Energy weight doubles in Eurozone inflation in April, +10.9%

The trend in Italia does not differ from the European one. It is in fact the energy component that is rekindling price pressures in the euro area. In Eurostat's flash estimate, which sees a sharp rise to 3% from 2.6% in March, in April the energy component recorded a leap of 10.9% on an annual basis, a strong acceleration more than double the 5.1% in March.

US, Pce inflation confirms estimates: +3.5% year-on-year

The personal consumption expenditures price index (Pce), the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation, rose 0.7% in March from the previous month, in line with expectations. Compared to a year earlier, it rose 3.5 per cent, in line with expectations, but up from 2.8 per cent a month earlier. The 'core' component of the figure, stripped of volatile elements, grew by 0.3% month-on-month, in line with expectations, and by 3.2% year-on-year, still in line with expectations. The Pce value is contained in the figure released by the Commerce Department on personal income and consumer spending.