Based on the quick estimate of the consumer price index (IPC) for October, released this Friday, 31st, by the National Statistics Institute, it is now possible to anticipate how much concessionaires will be able to increase toll prices in 2026.
Inflation without housing was 2.20%, and concessionaires will have the possibility of adding another 0.1 points due to the brake applied in 2023. Thus, tolls could increase by 2.30% in 2026, although details about the sections and final prices will only be known later.
The agreement regarding the 2023 brake, implemented when inflation soared, allows dealers to add 0.1 percentage points to the inflation value in the following four annual updates. This year, in 2025, tolls have already increased by 2.23%.
INE data also reveals that underlying inflation, which excludes agricultural and energy products, rose to 2.1%, an increase of 0.1 points compared to September. On the other hand, energy showed a negative change, with a drop of 1.2%, while unprocessed food products continued to increase, but with a deceleration to 6.1%, compared to 7.0% in the previous month.
In general terms, the average variation in inflation over the last twelve months is expected to have been 2.4%. The Portuguese Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), which serves as an international reference, accelerated to 2%, compared to 1.9% in September.
INE plans to release the definitive data for October on November 12th, when the exact value for updating tolls will be confirmed.