Year-on-year growth in consumer prices slowed to 2.5% in March; for the second consecutive month, price dynamics were primarily influenced by a base effect related to electricity prices. In March 2025, electricity prices increased by 16.5%, despite the shift to the low tariff season, following the expiry of the Act on emergency measures to mitigate the impact of high network charges for households. As a result, year-on-year price growth in the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels group declined by around 5 p.p., to 5.8% in March. Year-on-year growth in food and non-alcoholic beverage prices also eased (2.6%). Price growth for non-energy industrial goods remained moderate. Prices of semi-durable goods remained almost unchanged year on year in March (–0.1%), while prices of durable goods were 0.5% higher. Primarily due to the monthly increase in motor fuel prices (2.7%), the negative year-on-year contribution of the transport group narrowed slightly (by 0.2 p.p.). In March, year-on-year growth in services prices strengthened (3.7%), driven mainly by nearly 10% higher prices of insurance and financial services, which have increased by 11.3% over the past four months. In the last two months, year-on-year price growth in the restaurants and accommodation services group strengthened somewhat (3.1%).

The number of unemployed persons in March remained similar to the previous two months and slightly lower than at the end of last year (-0.7%, seasonally adjusted). According to original data, 45,760 people were unemployed at the end of March, 4.9% less than at the end of February. Year-on-year, unemployment declined by 0.2%. The year-on-year decline in the number of long-term unemployed (-5.8%) was similar to that recorded in previous months, while the decrease in the number of unemployed persons aged over 50 (–3.3%) was slightly smaller. The number of unemployed young people (aged 15–29), which has recorded year-on-year increases since October 2024, exceeded its level from a year earlier by 5.4%, reaching 9,881 persons.
 

Goods exports increased month-on-month in February, while imports declined; in the first two months of this year, both were lower year-on-year. Real goods exports increased month-on-month for the second consecutive month in February (+1.3%). Growth was driven mainly by higher exports of goods to non-EU countries (Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States), while exports to Slovenia’s main EU trading partners declined in current terms. By product group, exports of pharmaceutical and chemical products, miscellaneous manufactured articles (scientific and control instruments and miscellaneous manufactured articles), and metals and metal products increased. Exports of vehicles, which exhibit more pronounced monthly volatility, and of other machinery and equipment declined; both developments were mainly related to lower exports to Germany and France. Real imports declined for the third consecutive month in February (–3.2%), mainly due to lower imports of certain energy commodities. Imports of intermediate goods (excluding imports of petroleum products and electricity) and consumer goods increased, while imports of capital goods declined (all seasonally adjusted). Compared with the same period last year, and with one working day fewer, real exports were lower by 1.8% and imports by 1.6% in the first two months.
Export orders remained at a very low level in March, similar to the preceding months. 
 

After increasing in the fourth quarter of last year, total real turnover in market services remained at the December level in January (seasonally adjusted), while it remained higher year-on-year. In accommodation and food service activities, turnover has been increasing since last spring, and in information and communication since the second half of last year. In professional and technical activities, turnover has been declining since the fourth quarter of last year after several months of growth, particularly in architectural and engineering services. In transportation and storage, turnover has stagnated since the end of 2024. In administrative and support service activities, turnover in January, following gradual growth since the beginning of last year, increased noticeably and slightly exceeded its 2019 level (all seasonally adjusted). Total real turnover was 3.8% higher year-on-year in January; only in transportation was it slightly lower than a year earlier (by 1.3%).

In the first quarter, the yield to maturity of the Slovenian government bond increased by 20 basis points, to 3.25 %. Yields also increased in other euro area countries. The increase was most pronounced in March, in response to the war in the Middle East and the associated stronger inflationary pressures. The spread to the German bond widened by 6 basis points, to 39 basis points.