Consumer prices in Slovakia rose 4.2% year-on-year in August 2025, slowing slightly from the previous two months but still marking the highest inflation rate in 20 months, according to the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. Month-on-month, prices increased by just 0.1%, the lowest growth so far this year, matching April’s figure. Transport costs had the strongest impact on monthly inflation, with prices in this category rising 1.9%, driven by higher air and combined passenger transport fares. Food and housing costs, which carry the greatest weight in household spending, remained unchanged after several months of steady increases. Within food, price developments were mixed: vegetables, oils and fats, and dairy products fell, while meat, sugar, and cereals registered modest increases. Restaurant and hotel services rose 0.2%, while telecommunications prices also climbed, reflecting higher charges for phone services. Five of the 12 main expenditure divisions recorded month-on-month declines. Furniture and furnishings fell the most, down 0.5%, followed by recreation and culture (-0.2%). Alcoholic beverages and tobacco decreased 0.3%, largely due to lower beer and spirits prices. Apparel, footwear, and healthcare also edged lower. On a year-on-year basis, all 12 expenditure categories posted higher prices. Education recorded the sharpest increase at 10%, followed by restaurants and hotels, alcoholic beverages and tobacco, and miscellaneous goods and services such as insurance, hairdressing, and personal care. Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose 3.9% compared with August 2024, with notable increases in oils and fats, dairy, and fruit, offset by lower prices for meat and vegetables. Non-alcoholic beverages jumped more than 19% year-on-year. Housing and energy, healthcare, and transport recorded the slowest price growth, each remaining below 3%. Across the first eight months of 2025, consumer prices have increased by an average of 4.1% year-on-year. Core inflation, which excludes regulated prices and tax-driven changes, stood at 3.5% in August, while net inflation, which further strips out food prices, was 3.2%. Both measures rose 0.1% month-on-month. The Statistical Office noted that new scanner data sources, covering food, non-alcoholic beverages, alcoholic drinks, and tobacco, have been integrated into inflation calculations since 2024–2025, enhancing coverage and accuracy of price data.