03.02.202607:28:18UTC+00Georgia Inflation Rate Rises in January

In January 2026, Georgia's annual inflation rate climbed to 4.8%, up from a previous six-month low of 4.0% recorded in December of the prior year. Notable price increases were observed in the categories of food and non-alcoholic beverages, which surged to 10.6% compared to 8.8% in December 2025. Additionally, health costs rose to 8.3% from 7.0%, and expenses for restaurants and hotels increased to 8.1% from 6.9%. Other sectors experiencing significant price rises included miscellaneous goods and services, which went up 7.4% from 5.1%, and education, which slightly edged up to 2.2% from 2.1%. Conversely, deflation was less pronounced in areas like furnishings, household equipment and maintenance, which improved to -0.6% from -1.6%, transport easing to -0.3% from -0.6%, and communication marginally better at -4.6% from -4.7%. Nevertheless, growth in costs moderated for alcoholic beverages and tobacco, decreasing to 3.5% from 4.4%. There was also a further decline noted in the clothing and footwear sector, which fell to -1.8% from 0%, and in recreation and culture, dropping to -2.5% from -1.6%. On a monthly scale, consumer prices increased by 1.2%, rebounding from a 0.2% decline in the previous period, marking the highest monthly rise observed in over three years.