EMEA MACRO INSIGHTS
11
How energy prices are fuelling the euro area inflation
surge
While the driving forces and magnitude differ, the current trend in inflation echoes the historic price spikes of 2022. Headline inflation peaked at an annual average of 8.56% year-on-year (yoy) in 2022 (Table 2).This inflationary shock was remarkably balanced between energy and non-energy components, which contributed 4.00 percentage points (pp) and 4.56 pp to the headline rate, respectively. These pressures stemmed from generalized post-pandemic supply-demand imbalances coupled with the onset of the war in Ukraine.
Table 2:Non-energy and energy contributions toeuro area headline inflation
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Inflation %yoy 1.21 0.27 2.61 8.56 5.49 2.39 2.15 Contribution toinflation (pp) Non energy 1.08 0.94 1.35 4.56 5.7 2.58 2.27 Energy 0.13 -0.67 1.26 4,00 -0.21 -0.19 -0.12 Refined oilproducts 0.01 -0.55 0.76 1.54 -0.19 -0.15 -0.16 Gas 0.04 -0.08 0.22 1.23 -0.05 -0.01 0.02 Electricity 0.07 -0.03 0.27 1.12 0.00 -0.06 0.01 Others 0.01 -0.01 0.01 0.11 0.03 0.03 0.01 Average Brent ($/bbl) 64 43 71 99 82 80 68 Average natural gas (€/MWh) 15 10 47 131 42 35 36 Average price electricity (€/MWh) 46 36 115 259 108 83 91
Source: Eurostat, Natixis CIB Research
Although the 2022 energy price shock hit mid-demand shock (with buoyant growth and already high inflation), 2026 opened with sluggish economic growth and clear disinflationary pressures. 3 Specifically, first-quarter GDP growth slowed sharply from arobust 5.6% yoy in 2022 to just 0.6% yoy in 2026. This slowdown was mirrored in the inflation data, with rates remaining below the 2% target until March (Table 3),when the outbreak of war involving Iran triggered apronounced upward trend that pushed headline inflation to 3.25% yoy by August
Unlike in 2022, the non-energy contribution to headline inflation remained remarkably stable at around 2.0 pp throughout 2026. This indicates that the 2026 inflation spike has, so far, been almost entirely an energy-driven supply shock.
Table 3:2026 Non-energy and energy contributions toeuro area headline inflation
2026
Jan. Fev. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug.
Inflation % 1.68 1.89 2.55 3.03 3.17 2.75 2.94 3.25
Contribution toinflation (pp)
Non energy 2.04 2.17 2.1 2.07 2.2 1.99 2.03 1.99
Energy -0.36 -0.28 0.45 0.96 0.97 0.76 0.91 1.26
Refined oilproducts -0.16 -0.13 0.58 0.96 0.92 0.61 0.74 1.04
Gas -0.08 -0.09 -0.08 0.01 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.13
Electricity -0.13 -0.07 -0.06 -0.02 -0.02 0.05 0.06 0.08
Others 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.01
Average Brent ($/bbl) 65 69 100 103 104 84 84 88
Average natural gas (€/MWh) 34 32 53 45 47 45 54 62
Average price electricity (€/MWh) 107 76 93 82 91 107 124 146
Source: Eurostat, Natixis CIB Research
3See Durré, A.(2026), “Central Bank’s Stagflation Dilemma: The case ofthe ECB”, EMEA Macro Insights: April 16.