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2025 januárjában a magyar infláció 5,5%-ra nőtt. Az áremelkedés fő oka az élelmiszerárak növekedése, például a liszt, tej és tojás ára jelentősen nőtt. Az alapvető szolgáltatások árai is emelkedtek. A kormány fontolgatja az árkontrollt az infláció megfékezésére .
Translation
In January 2025, inflation in Hungary rose to 5.5%. The main reason for the price increase was the rise in food prices, with significant increases in the prices of flour, milk, and eggs. The cost of basic services also went up. The government is considering implementing price controls to curb inflation.
Exercise: Text comprehension
Question 1: What was the main reason for the increase in inflation in Hungary?
The main reason was the increase in food prices.
Question 2: What is the government considering to control inflation?
The government is considering price controls to control inflation.
Exercise: Vocabulary
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▌12/02/2025
Inflation in Hungary experienced a significant increase in January 2025, with consumer prices rising by 5.5% compared to the same month a year earlier, according to data published by the Central Statistical Office (KSH). This marks a notable acceleration from December's year-on-year inflation rate of 4.6% and exceeds the expectations of many analysts.
The report highlights that food prices played a significant role in driving inflation, increasing by 6% over the year. Particular attention was drawn to basic commodities such as flour, milk, and eggs, which saw substantial price hikes of 43.2%, 25%, and 23.8%, respectively. Meanwhile, fuel prices soared by 11.8% compared to January 2024, adding further pressure on household budgets.
In contrast, the core inflation rate, which excludes volatile items like food and energy, reached 5.8%, indicating persistent price pressures across other sectors. The increase in prices for services, which rose by 8.5%, also contributed significantly to overall inflation. Notable increases were observed in postal services, which went up by 16.8%, and telecommunications, with a 15% rise.
Hungarian Inflation Soars to 5.5% in January (Illustration)
To address the inflationary pressures, especially on essential items, the Hungarian government indicated potential measures, including reinforcing price controls on certain foodstuffs. Economy Minister Márton Nagy described the situation as "unacceptable," particularly the rising costs of essential goods such as milk and eggs, which heavily burden low-income households.
Further compounding the inflationary trends was the enactment of inflation-indexed taxes at the start of the year. As a result, excise duties on fuel and alcohol increased automatically in line with last July's inflation rate, adding an additional 4.1% increase. The Ministry of National Economy noted that these tax adjustments are expected to add 0.3 percentage points to the 2025 inflation rate.
Despite government efforts to stabilize prices, challenges remain, particularly in relation to the weakening of the Hungarian forint. Currency fluctuations have contributed to rising import costs, which are gradually feeding through to consumer prices.
Looking ahead, the government has pledged to continue monitoring price developments closely and to take further actions if necessary to protect consumers. This includes possible reintroductions of price caps on certain products, as recently hinted by Minister Nagy amidst ongoing meetings with retail and agricultural representatives.
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