Rising inflation in Romania
The soaring energy prices are driving up the annual inflation rate
Ştefan Stoica, 15.04.2026, 14:00
While the Bucharest government has succeeded, partly through unpopular measures, to reduce the budget deficit, which remains the highest in the European Union, the tools at its disposal to combat inflation remain limited. According to the latest figures from the National Statistics Institute, the annual inflation rate has once again neared the 10% mark, reaching 9.87% in March, up from 9.31% in February. After several months of recording slight decreases, inflation is rising once more, driven primarily by the soaring costs of fuel and electricity. Service costs have climbed by over 11%, non-food goods by nearly 11%, and foodstuffs by approximately 7.5%. Conversely, two notable price reductions were recorded, with costs dropping about 5% for both natural gas and air travel.
Leading the price hikes over the past 12 months is electricity, which saw an increase of 57%, followed by railway transport at over 24%, and coffee at more than 23%. Financial analyst Adrian Codirlaşu noted on public radio that the rising cost of energy and fuel, sparked by the situation in the Middle East, continues to exert pressure on the entire economy. He estimates that this inflationary trend will persist as price hikes in fuel and energy, stemming from the conflict in Iran and complications surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, trickle down into the prices of all other goods and services.
“As previously mentioned, prices have risen for all energy-related products, including fuel, electricity and methane gas. These increases will be reflected in the price of every good and service to a greater or lesser degree, but the impact will be felt. Consequently, I expect the inflation rate to continue its upward trend in the coming months. We will likely see double-digit inflation, exceeding 10%, in the near future, which will probably not dip back below that threshold until August or September, when the effect of last year’s VAT increase fades, though inflation will remain high”.
Prior to the release of the data, the National Bank had anticipated a potential spike in inflation between March and June, fueled by rising fuel costs and the impact of recent fiscal policies. Furthermore, the Bank has designated the global energy crisis as a significant risk to fiscal stability. The Central Bank is focused on maintaining price stability, even if it results in slower economic growth. High interest rates are intended to temper consumption and lending, yet economists view this as a necessary process to successfully rein in inflation. (VP)
