EU transport services: consumer price fluctuations

In May 2025, the average price of transport services (services related to the transportation of individuals in various forms, including by railway, road, air, sea and inland waterways) in the EU was 1.7% higher than in May 2024.  The prices of passenger transport by railway and road were up by 4.0% and 2.3%, respectively, while air transport prices were down by 3.0%. 

Between May 2023 and May 2025, inflation for transport services saw moderate fluctuations. It started at +3.9% in May 2023, reached +11.9% in June 2023, then declined steadily and reached negative rates in late 2023 and early 2024. By August 2024, the annual rate of change rose to +3.5% and stayed at similar levels in the following months, peaking again in April 2025 (+7.3%). 

Prices for passenger transport by railway were more stable than the overall transport services, maintaining annual rate changes between +0.8% and +5.7%. Similarly, passenger transport by road showed rate changes between +1.2% and +4.5%. 

Source dataset: prc_hicp_manr

Air transport prices were the most volatile, reflecting travel demand and seasonality. In May 2023, prices were 18.4% higher than in May 2022. The rate dropped considerably to -5.3% by November 2023, then fluctuated throughout the following months. In November 2024, inflation for air transport increased to 10.0%, and in April 2025, it was +13.8%.

In May 2025, among EU countries, the highest annual inflation for transport services was recorded in Malta (+19.0%), Slovakia (+14.2%), and Luxembourg (+12.7%). Inflation rates for transport services declined in 7 EU countries, most notably in Cyprus (-9.4%), Ireland (-9.2%), and the Netherlands (-4.9%). 

Source dataset: prc_hicp_manr