Prices in Albania during 2025 were stable, with average inflation reaching 2.2%. Meanwhile, for 2026, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts that inflation will reach an average rate of 2.8%, a level that preserves market and economic stability.
This figure comes from the IMF’s latest report, which indicates that most economies worldwide are expected to experience a slowdown in price growth, with the global average inflation rate declining to around 3.7%, from about 4.2% in 2025.
For the Western Balkan countries, IMF projections show moderate inflation levels for 2026. North Macedonia is forecast at around 3.0%, Kosovo at about 2.7%, and Montenegro at approximately 2.3%—figures that place the region below the global average and within a stable range of price growth.
Meanwhile, Serbia is expected to record higher inflation, around 4%, exceeding not only its neighbors but also the projected Balkan average.
In a broader global context, the IMF notes that advanced economies in Europe and Asia are expected to experience price increases below 2%.
In the United States, certain risks may affect the market, with the effects of tariffs expected to temper price growth compared to 2025.