The annual inflation rate rose to 5% in July this year, from 3.9% in June, according to data published Wednesday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), confirming recent comments by Central Bank governor Mugur Isărescu. The biggest increases were in electricity and gas.
The price increase comes as non-food goods rose by 7.64%, food goods by 2.33% and services by 2.74% compared to July 2020.
“Consumer prices in July 2021 compared to June 2021 increased by 1.0%. The year-to-date inflation rate (July 2021 compared to December 2020) is 4.4%. The annual inflation rate in July 2021 compared to July 2020 is 5.0%. The average rate of consumer prices in the last 12 months (August 2020 – July 2021) compared to the previous 12 months (August 2019 – July 2020) is 3.1%,” the NSI states.
Governor Mugur Isărescu said recently that price increases in Romania are now significantly higher than the National Bank’s previous forecast, with the NBR estimating that the inflation rate will be around 5% for July (up from 3.9% in June) and 5.6% at the end of the year, mainly due to energy prices. Mugur Isărescu said the figures did not “look pretty”. However, he added that Romania was not alone in this situation, with high inflation in the United States, Hungary and Poland, as well as in Germany, the country of price stability.
Top prices, compared to July 2020:
Electricity – 24.65%
Electricity, gas and central heating – 21.51%
Gas – 20.5%.
Edible oil – 18%
Oil, bacon, fats – 16% – Oil
Fuels – 12,96%
Sheep’s cheese – 6%
Fresh fish – 5,76%
Postal services – 5,54%
Fish and canned fish – 5.29%
Cheese – 5,05%
Tobacco, cigarettes – 4,94%
Bread – 4,59%
Beans and other pulses – 4,55%
Margarine – 4,46%
Top cheapest, compared to July 2020:
Potatoes – 31%
Air – 23%
Fresh fruit – 5%
Vegetables and canned vegetables – 3.9%
Fruit and canned fruit – 3.6%
Citrus and other southern fruits – 3.3%
Top price increases, compared to December 2020:
Electricity – 23.15%
Electricity, gas and central heating – 20.68
Gas – 20.49
Edible oil – 14.19%
Citrus and other southern fruits – 13.4%
Oil, bacon, fat – 12.67%
Fruit and canned fruit – 11.56%
Fuels – 11,27%
Fresh fruit – 10,9%
Postal services – 5,51%
Top cheapest, compared to December 2020:
Air travel – 19%
Eggs – 4.7%
Potatoes – 4%