Belgium's Bureau du Plan raises inflation forecasts, triggers earlier indexation

Belgium's Bureau du Plan revised its inflation outlook upward, now expecting 3.7% average inflation this year and next, up from 3.6% and 3.4% a month ago. The pivot index for social benefits and civil servant salaries is now projected to be exceeded in November 2026 and April 2027, earlier than previously forecast, triggering automatic wage and benefit increases sooner than expected. This marks a deviation from prior projections and signals persistent inflationary pressure in Belgium.