April 7, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 07.04.2026, 20:07
BANK The board of Romania’s Central Bank (BNR) on Tuesday decided to maintain the monetary policy interest rate at 6.50% per year – BNR sources have announced in a press release. According to the source, the yearly inflation rate is expected to grow in the March-June interval at higher levels than the previous forecasts, against the significant increases in oil and gas prices as a result of the Middle East war. Against this background the absorption and the maximum capitalization on the European funds, mainly those in the National Plan of Recovery and Resilience, PNRR, are essential, the BNR says.
ACADEMY Chemist Marius Andruh on Tuesday was elected the new president of the Romanian Academy. He mustered 87 votes out of the total 157 against his contender, philosopher Mircea Dumitru. The incumbent Academy president, historian Ioan-Aurel Pop didn’t run for a new mandate. The president elect will begin his mandate after 15 days since the poll. Marius Andruh was born in 1954 in a family of teachers. In 1979 he graduated with flying colours from the Faculty of Chemistry with the Bucharest University and got his PhD in chemistry in 1988. He went to France and Germany for postdoctoral training. Since 1984 he has been teaching at the inorganic chemistry department of the Faculty of Chemistry in Bucharest. Between 1994 and 1996 he was associate professor at the Universite du Quebec in Montreal, Canada. He was visiting professor with several universities in Europe and South America.
FUEL A 0.30 RON reduction in the excise duty on diesel fuel took effect in Romania on Tuesday. Currently, prices at gas stations range from 9.93 RON to 10.40 RON (approx. 2 euros). The price of the standard grade petrol seems to have stabilized around 9.15 RON per liter, although it has not been reduced. The decision was adopted by the government after consultations with market operators as a measure to curb rising fuel prices. Excise tax is one of the three main components of the final price, alongside international oil prices (plus the refining margin) and the distributors’ commercial margin. Added to these is VAT, which amplifies any price change. At the same time, the government has also introduced an additional rule: prices at the gas station may now be updated only once a day, in an effort to reduce volatility and rapid market reactions. On the other hand, the presidency announced that Romania is not currently facing difficulties in securing crude oil and fuel supplies. Following a meeting held on Monday in Bucharest, President Nicusor Dan, the government, and private-sector partners agreed on a mechanism for ongoing communication.
TENNIS The Romanian tennis player, Sorana Cirstea, on Tuesday qualified for the round of 16 of the WTA 500 tournament in Linz, Austria, a competition with total prizes over one million dollars. The fifth-seeded Cirstea, a 36-years-old player has outperformed Austrian Sinja Kraus in a two-setter, 6-3, 6-3. The Romanian will be next up against Dalma Galfi of Hungary. Another Romanian player, Jaqueline Cristian, conceded defeat to Tamara Korpatsch of Germany also on Tuesday. On Monday night, Gabriela Ruse from Romania won the match she played against Katie Boulter of Britain.
INCOMES Household incomes in Romania saw a slight increase at the end of last year, but household expenditures remained high and accounted for the largest share of the budget, according to an analysis by the National Institute of Statistics. On average, a family had an income of 9,454 lei (approximately 1,850 euros) and expenses of 8,075 lei (nearly 1,600 euros). According to the INS, gross wages were approximately 6,500 lei (1,275 euros) per month per household and represented the main source of income. Romanians spent the most money on food, over 30% of their income, with utilities and energy accounting for approximately 16%. The rest of the money was spent on clothing, transportation, and healthcare. Spending on education remained the lowest, at just 26 lei (5.1 euros) per household, or less than one percent of total consumption costs, the NIS further notes.
(bill)
