The annual inflation rate in Malta fell to 1.4 percent in November 2018 from 2.1 percent in the prior month. It is the lowest inflation rate since April, as prices slowed mainly for food & non-alcoholic beverages (3.5% vs 4% in October); transport (1.2% vs 1.3%) and housing & utilities (0.8% vs 1.1%). Also, inflation softened for miscellaneous goods & services (1.9% vs 2.2%) and restaurants & hotels (1.0% vs 3.4%) while it remained steady for alcoholic beverages & tobacco (1.2 percent) and health (0.5 percent). In addition, prices continued to fall for recreation & culture (-0.6% vs -1.0%); communication (-1.1%, the same pace as in October) and education (-4.4% vs -1.6%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices declined 2.9 percent, after falling 1.2 percent in the preceding month. Inflation Rate in Malta averaged 1.93 percent from 2005 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 5.74 percent in October of 2008 and a record low of -1.08 percent in April of 2007.
Inflation Rate in Malta is expected to be 2.40 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Inflation Rate in Malta to stand at 2.10 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Malta Inflation Rate is projected to trend around 2.40 percent in 2020, according to our econometric models.