The Belgian consumer price index and inflation figure for April will not be published as planned, due to a lack of consensus within the Index Commission.
In accordance with the procedure, the administration is forwarding this file to the cabinet of David Clarinval, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Employment, Economy and Agriculture, responsible for the Belgian consumer price index (CPI). Approval of the April index now falls to the Minister. This approval must be given before 30 April 2026 at 4pm so that the figure can be published in the Belgian Official Gazette.
The Consumer Price Index Commission has informed the Minister's cabinet that the Belgian consumer price index (CPI) for April 2026 and the associated monthly Belgian inflation figure will temporarily not be published. Indeed, for the calculation and publication of the monthly Belgian CPI, Statbel applies the decision of the Index Commission. However, for the month of April, no consensus could be reached among the social partners making up this Commission.
All members nevertheless considered that this month's index had been correctly calculated by the administration according to the methodology in force, as defined in the December 2025 opinion.
In the absence of consensus among the members, the power to approve the April index falls to Minister Clarinval, as the Minister for Economy responsible for the Belgian CPI.
In accordance with the procedure in force, the Minister took note of this and submitted the file to the Kern (core cabinet).
Following consultation within the Kern, the Minister approves the indexation calculations as computed by the competent administrations according to the current methodology.
Following approval by Minister Clarinval, Statbel will publish tomorrow the figures for the consumer price index and inflation for April 2026.
He also encourages the Commission members to implement the approved work programme