Georgia’s annual inflation rate stood at 5.7% in May, while consumer prices increased by 0.3% month-on-month, according to data released by the National Statistics Office (Geostat) on June 3. Prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages declined by 0.6% compared to April.
The main contributors to annual inflation were transport (15.1%), restaurants and hotels (7.6%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (7.2%), housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (7%), food and non-alcoholic beverages (5.2%), and health (5.1%).
Within the food-related category, the highest annual price increases were recorded for fish (20.9%), meat (10.1%), bread and cereals (7%), fruit and grapes (6.5%), oils and fats (6.1%), sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery (6%), coffee, tea and cocoa (5.4%), milk, cheese and eggs (4.1%), mineral waters, soft drinks, fruit and vegetable juices (1.5%). Vegetable prices, meanwhile, fell by 7% year-on-year.
On a monthly basis, prices rose most notably for fruit and grapes (3.2%), mineral waters, soft drinks, fruit and vegetable juices (2.4%), coffee, tea, and cocoa (1.5%), fish (1.1%), and meat (0.8%). In contrast, vegetable prices declined by 7.5%, while milk, cheese, and eggs fell by 1.9%, oils and fats 0.2%, and bread and cereals, sugar, jam, honey, chocolate, and confectionery by 0.1%.
The data comes as the disputed parliament’s commission tasked with studying the pricing structure of food products, medicines, and fuel concluded its three-month work in May. The commission, established in February, followed calls from Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who raised concerns about high consumer prices in late December. Commission chair Shota Berakashvili said elevated prices are primarily linked to “inefficient operational costs” rather than “excessive profits,” calling for “targeted” reforms over what he described as “aggressive interference,” which he warned could create “systemic risks” for the broader economy.
The European Commission’s latest European Economic Forecast projects inflation to remain elevated in 2026 due to high energy prices. According to Fitch Ratings, one of the major credit rating agencies, inflation in Georgia will “remain high over the coming months and decline gradually thereafter towards the 3% target.”
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