The Hungarian competition authority, GVH, reported that food prices remained stable in February 2026 compared to the previous year, aided by the online price monitoring system, Árfigyelő. This system tracks the prices of over 5,000 food and household products across more than 1,800 stores nationwide, providing consumers with the ability to compare prices and save money during the Easter shopping period.

In February 2026, consumer prices were 1.4% higher than a year earlier, with food prices increasing by only 0.2%. Notably, certain food items saw significant price reductions, such as margarine and canned meat, which dropped by 32.3% and 26.9%, respectively. This low inflation rate is the lowest recorded in Hungary in nearly a decade.

The Árfigyelő system was launched on July 1, 2023, initially monitoring 62 product categories. It has since expanded to include 140 categories, allowing consumers to track daily price changes for a wide range of products, including meats, dairy, vegetables, and more, essential for Easter meals.

GVH has noted that the implementation of Árfigyelő has led to a nearly 10% reduction in gross margins for retailers on dairy products. According to calculations by the Makronóm Institute, the system saved Hungarian households nearly 20 billion HUF during the winter of 2023-24 through its price-reducing effects. Inspired by Hungary's success, Slovakia has recently launched a similar online price comparison system, and Austria is considering implementing one as well.