Based on the official data released by National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat), food prices in Georgia increased again in January 2026 compared to the previous month.
Public discussion around food prices intensified on December 24, 2025, when Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze released a video announcing an investigation into price formation. Following this, the Georgian Dream government carried out a series of activities related to pricing, including meetings with representatives of retail chains and distributors. The State Security Service also conducted inspections at the offices of retail chains and seized financial documentation. In parallel, supporters of Georgian Dream promoted the narrative on social media that food prices in supermarkets had significantly decreased as a result of government actions.
However, the latest official data published by Geostat confirm that food prices continued to rise in January compared to December.
In January 2026, monthly inflation in Georgia stood at 1.2%, while annual inflation reached 4.8%.
The main driver of monthly inflation was price growth in the food and non-alcoholic beverages group. Prices in this category increased by 2.9%, contributing 0.96 percentage points to overall monthly inflation.
Significant monthly price increases were recorded in the following food subgroups:
* Vegetables and garden produce: +12.5%
* Fruit and grapes: +5.9%
* Milk, cheese and eggs: +3.5%
* Sugar, jam and other sweets: +2.8%
* Coffee, tea and cocoa: +2.6%
* Fish and seafood: +1.8%
* Oils and fats: +1.5%
* Meat and meat products: +1.4%
* Bread and bakery products: +0.2%
At the same time, prices declined for mineral and spring water, non-alcoholic beverages and natural juices by 0.5%.
Prices in the healthcare group rose by 2.4%, contributing 0.2 percentage points to overall inflation. Increases were recorded in medical products, equipment and devices (+4.5%), as well as outpatient medical services (+0.1%).
The prices of miscellaneous goods and services increased by 2.9%, contributing 0.15 percentage points to the overall index. Growth was mainly observed in insurance (+8.5%), personal items not elsewhere classified (+3.5%), financial services (+2.6%) and personal hygiene (+2.3%).
In contrast, prices in the clothing and footwear group decreased by 4.3%, reducing monthly inflation by 0.2 percentage points. Clothing prices fell by 4.8%, while footwear prices declined by 3.4%.
As for annual inflation, Geostat reports that the largest impact came from food and non-alcoholic beverages, where prices increased by 10.6%, contributing 3.55 percentage points to annual inflation.
On an annual basis, food price increases were recorded in the following subgroups:
* Fish and seafood: +20.5%
* Fruit and grapes: +16.9%
* Bread and bakery products: +14.3%
* Sugar, jam and other sweets: +10.2%
* Meat and meat products: +9.7%
* Coffee, tea and cocoa: +9.4%
* Vegetables and garden produce: +8.8%
* Oils and fats: +8.7%
* Milk, cheese and eggs: +8.6%
* Mineral and spring water, non-alcoholic beverages and natural juices: +6.8%
Healthcare prices rose by 8.3% year-on-year, contributing 0.68 percentage points to annual inflation. Price increases were recorded in hospital services (+9.0%), medical products, equipment and devices (+8.3%), and outpatient medical services (+7.7%).
Prices for miscellaneous goods and services increased by 7.4%, adding 0.35 percentage points to the overall index. The largest increases were observed in personal items not elsewhere classified (+37.9%), insurance (+8.5%) and personal hygiene (+4.2%).
Prices in hotels, cafes and restaurants rose by 8.1%, contributing 0.26 percentage points to annual inflation. Increases were recorded both in accommodation services (+10.2%) and catering services (+7.8%).
Prices in the alcoholic beverages and tobacco group increased by 3.5%, contributing 0.23 percentage points to annual inflation, mainly driven by a 6.6% rise in tobacco prices.
