MADRID, SPAIN / RankWire.AI / – According to final official data, Spain’s annual inflation rate for consumer prices increased to 3.6% in July, up from 3.2% in June. This figure exceeded the initial flash estimate of 3.5% released on July 30. Prices for consumers rose by 0.3% compared to June, surpassing the preliminary monthly estimate of 0.2%. The National Statistics Institute, or INE, confirmed that the July data is definitive and will not be revised further.
Transport contributed the most to the annual increase, with group prices climbing 6.2% year-over-year. This rise was driven by increased costs for fuel and lubricants used in personal vehicles. These prices grew more sharply than they did in July 2025. Housing expenses also saw a 5.7% annual growth, one percentage point higher than in June, as electricity prices accelerated compared to the previous year.
Core inflation, which excludes unprocessed food and energy, inched up to 3.0% from 2.9% in June. Spain’s Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) increased by 3.9% from July of the previous year, compared to 3.6% in June. The final HICP rate also surpassed the initial estimate of 3.8%. On a month-to-month basis, the HICP remained unchanged in July. This index provides a standardized basis for comparing price levels across European Union nations.
Fuel and Electricity Costs Drive July Price Gains
Transport costs for the month rose by 2.3%, representing the largest positive contribution to Spain’s headline CPI during July. Housing prices increased by 1.6%, mainly due to higher electricity charges and smaller increases in gas and liquid fuels. Prices for recreation, sport, and culture also saw a 2.3% rise, fueled by more expensive package holidays. These increases offset declines seen in other consumer categories.
Prices for clothing and footwear fell by 10.2% from June, as summer sales pushed down prices across these items. Food and non-alcoholic beverages decreased by 0.7%, with lower costs for fruits, nuts, vegetables, pulses, and potatoes. Among Spain’s autonomous communities, Cantabria experienced the highest annual CPI increase at 4.3%. Extremadura had the lowest rate among the regions, at 3.0%, while the national figure stood at 3.6%.
Spain’s Harmonised Inflation Rate Continues to Outpace Euro-Area
Spain’s harmonised inflation rate of 3.9% remained above the euro area’s 2.9% flash estimate for July. Euro-area inflation was 2.8% in June before rising slightly in July. Eurostat released the July euro-area figure as an initial estimate, while Spain’s national harmonised rate is definitive. The harmonised metric enables inflation comparisons across EU member states within a common framework.
Spain’s recent inflation trend shows an upward movement following the 3.4% rate in March. The CPI then settled at 3.2% in April, May, and June before increasing again in July. Core inflation shifted from 2.8% in April to 3.0% in May, then slightly down to 2.9% in June, and back to 3.0% in July. The INE calculates the CPI based on roughly 200,000 monthly price observations covering a broad range of goods and services purchased by households across Spain.