Georgia's annual inflation sees new 3-year high, reaching 5.9% in April

TBILISI. May 4 (Interfax) - Consumer prices in Georgia increased 1.7% month-on-month in April after rising 0.8% in March, 0.2% in February and 1.2% in January, the Georgian National Statistics Service said.

Annual inflation in April accelerated to 5.9% compared to a year earlier, from 4.3% in March, 4.6% in February and 4.8% in January. Over the past three years, the highest level of annual inflation was recorded in March 2023, at 5.3%; subsequently, the growth rate of consumer prices decreased and did not exceed 5.2% (in October 2025).

Core inflation (excluding seasonal prices) in April 2026 amounted to 3.5% on an annual basis, compared to 2.8% in March.

The jump in inflation in April is mainly associated with the rise in prices of electricity and fuel (+10% compared to March), clothing and footwear (+5.3%), and transport services (+4.9%).

The main drivers of annual inflation were the rise in prices for transport services (+10.3%), electricity and fuel (+10.2%), food products (+7.5%), alcoholic beverages (+6.5%), and hotel and restaurant services (+7.5%). The growth of annual inflation was restrained by a decrease in prices for communication services (+4%), furniture and household appliances (+2.4%).

It was previously reported that the Georgian authorities increased electricity tariffs more than 20% from April 1, which coincided with an increase in the cost of petroleum products amid the Middle East crisis.

Inflation in the country rose to 4% in 2025 from 1.9% in 2024, after falling to 0.4% in 2023 from 9.4% in 2022 and 13.9% in 2021.

The International Monetary Fund expects that inflation in Georgia will rise to 5% this year amid the war in Iran, while Georgia's largest investment bank, Galt & Taggart, forecasts inflation in the country at 4.8% due to the Middle East crisis.