Rising energy prices due to the Iran war are continuing to push up Italian inflation, which was 3.3% in August, a near three-year high, Istat said Tuesday.
    According to preliminary estimates, in August 2026, the national consumer price index (NIC), excluding tobacco, will increase by +0.5% month-on-month and +3.3% year-on-year (from +2.9% the previous month).
    "In August 2026, inflation will rise to +3.3% (from +2.9% in July), supported by the trend in energy prices (from +11.6% to +17.0%), which are still affected by international tensions," explains the national statistics institute.
    The 'acquired' inflation for 2026 (i.e., the inflation that would occur in the year assuming that the index itself remains at the same level as the latest available monthly data for the remainder of the year) is equal to +2.9% for the general index and +1.9% for the core component, Istat said.
    The inflation rate recorded in August (3.3%) is the highest in almost three years.
    In fact, we need to go back to September 2023, Istat reports, to find a higher rate of change than the preliminary estimate recorded in August 2026.
    In September 2023, inflation had reached 5.3%.
    Finally, the stats agency said that In August, the annual rate of change in prices for the so-called "shopping basket" (food, household goods, and personal care products) remained stable (at +1.0%), while the rate of change for frequently purchased products increased (from +3.4% to +4.3%).

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