Czech clothing and service prices soar since 2020, food inflation matches EU trend

Since the start of 2020, the Czech Republic has experienced significantly faster price growth in several consumer categories compared to the rest of the European Union. According to an analysis by Cyrrus on inflation trends between January 2020 and January 2025, clothing, audiovisual equipment, and accommodation services in the Czech market have seen the most notable price hikes across the EU.

Prices for accommodation services in the Czech Republic surged by 58.3 percent over the five-year period, representing the highest increase among all EU countries. The EU average for this category was considerably lower at 29.5 percent. Similarly, photographic and audiovisual equipment also saw substantial price growth in the Czech Republic. While most EU countries recorded a decline in prices for these items—an average drop of 5.3 percent—the Czech Republic experienced a 20.1 percent increase, the highest in the union.

Clothing costs in the Czech Republic rose by 49.3 percent, far surpassing the EU average of 11.4 percent. Home textiles followed a similar trend, climbing 48.5 percent in the Czech market, compared to just 13.8 percent across the EU—again marking the fastest growth in this category among member states.

In contrast, food prices in the Czech Republic remained aligned with the broader EU trend. Between January 2020 and January 2025, food prices rose by 33.6 percent—very close to the European average. By comparison, neighboring Slovakia and Poland saw significantly sharper increases, with food prices rising by 47.9 percent and 46.6 percent respectively.

Gasoline prices in the Czech Republic also rose more moderately. Since January 2020, the cost of fuel increased by 13.4 percent—well below the EU average of 21.7 percent during the same period. This made the Czech Republic one of the countries with the slowest growth in fuel prices.

Overall, while the Czech Republic faced one of the highest cumulative inflation rates in the EU over the past five years—at 39.8 percent, ranking fifth in the bloc—the price surges were not evenly distributed across sectors. While essentials like food and fuel followed EU-wide trends or remained below average, categories like clothing and accommodation saw disproportionate increases, setting the Czech Republic apart in the broader inflationary landscape.