The annual inflation rate in Italy climbed to 4.2% in September 2026 from 3.3% in August, according to preliminary estimates. The reading marks a fresh highest level since September 2023, and is well above market expectations of a rise to 3.8%. Energy inflation climbed further for both regulated (25.9% vs 18.6%) and non-regulated (22.2% vs 17%) products. Price growth also accelerated sharply for unprocessed food (5.5% vs 3.8%) and transport (1.6% vs 0.8%). Underlying price pressures also strengthened. Core inflation, which excludes energy and unprocessed food, rose to 1.7% from 1.5%, while inflation excluding energy increased to 2.0% from 1.7%. From the previous month, consumer prices rose 0.7%, accelerating from a 0.5% rise in August. The HICP inflation also accelerated sharply, reaching a fresh three-year high of 4.1%, up from 3.2%, while surging 2% month-on-month, reflecting the impact of summer sales that are excluded from the headline inflation rate, following a 0.1% increase.