The annual inflation rate edged up to 4.4% in August 2026 from 4.3% in July and below the expected 4.5%. Main upward pressure came from prices of transportation (8.8% vs 8.9% in July). Also, food price inflation (1.1% vs 0.9%) quickened for the first time in nine months. Meanwhile, core inflation, which excludes prices of food, non-alcoholic beverages, fuel, and energy, eased to 4.1% from a two-year high of 4.2% in July and slightly below the expected 4.2%. On a monthly basis, the CPI was flat in August, after increasing by 0.2% in the month before.