YEREVAN /ARKA/. A slight increase in medical service prices associated with the introduction of the universal health insurance system contributed to the acceleration of inflation in Ar- menia in the first half of 2026. This is stated in the Central Bank of Arme- nia’s report on the implementation of the monetary policy program for the period from the third quarter of 2025 to the second quarter of 2026. According to the Central Bank, annual inflation in Armenia reached 5.1% in June, up from 3.9% a year earlier. Core inflation over the same period increased from 3.1% to 4.9%. The regulator cites the rise in medical ser- vice costs as one of the factors accelerating in- flation, along with external price pres- sures, rising local food prices, and a significant increase in energy prices amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. According to the data presented in the report, outpatient ser- vice prices in June 2026 increased by 6% compared to June of the previous year. Their contribution to annual in- flation was 0.2 percentage points.