Romania’s annual inflation rate rose to 6.9% in October, up from 6.6% in September, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) on Thursday, November 12.
Compared with the same month of the previous year, the annual inflation rate stood at 6.94%, with the highest price increases once again recorded in services, at 11.23%.
Over the same period, non-food goods prices increased by 7.66%, while food prices rose by 3.07%, the INS press release stated.
Food prices
For food products, the largest price increase over this period was recorded for coffee, the price of which rose by 12.48% in one year. Eggs remained in second place, with 10.50%, while cow’s milk became 8.11% more expensive, according to INS data.
During this period, the price of edible oil increased by 7.94%. As for meats, prices rose by 7.17% for beef, 2.28% for pork, and 2.94% for poultry. Fresh fish became 5.29% more expensive, while the category of canned fish saw a 5.27% increase.
The category of sugar and honey products recorded a 4.91% price increase compared with October 2025, while the price of sugar itself decreased by 0.85%. Among alcoholic beverages, țuică and other spirits became 5.19% more expensive, wine by 3.96%, and beer by 4.79%.
INS data showed that other food price increases were recorded for bread, at 4.5%, cow’s milk telemea cheese, at 3.46%, and sheep’s milk telemea cheese, at 3.43%.
Price decreases in October 2026 compared with the same period of the previous year were recorded for butter, down 0.77%, flour, down 2.5%, and cornmeal, down 2.86%. Prices also fell over the course of one year for potatoes, by 2.53%, dried beans, by 0.65%, and fresh fruit, by 15.38%.
Non-food products
At the same time, among non-food goods, the most significant price increases in October were recorded for diesel, at 43.45%, followed by petrol, at 32.91%. Electricity prices continued to rise in October 2026, by 4.09%, following the end of the base effect resulting from the removal of the price-capping support scheme.
Other significant price increases in this category were recorded for heating (9.61%), knitwear (6.74%), books, newspapers and magazines (6.31%), detergents (5.92%), and tobacco and cigarettes (5.72%). Last but not least, hygiene products and cosmetics became 3.83% more expensive, while medicine prices increased by 2.14% in October.
Between October 2025 and October 2026, gas prices increased by 1.41%. Watches, video equipment and sporting goods became 7.94% more expensive over one year, while cars and spare parts saw a 5.08% price increase.
Cost of services up
In the services category, the largest price increases in October 2026 compared with the same month in 2025 were recorded for rents, which rose by 38.46%, followed by airfares, which increased by 14.44%, water, sewerage and sanitation services, by 13.69%, and television subscriptions, by 13.10%.
Other significant increases in this category over the course of one year were recorded for car repairs (8.22%), hygiene and cosmetics services (8.65%), and footwear and clothing manufacturing and repair services (8.15%). At the same time, medical services became 8.41% more expensive, urban transport fares increased by 2.29%, and road transport fares by 8.47%.
Car subscription fees rose by 9.22%. Postal service rates in October 2026 compared with the same month in 2025 increased by 9.26%, restaurant and café services became 6.15% more expensive over one year, and hotel room accommodation prices rose by 4.06%, INS reports.
Financial future
The National Bank of Romania (BNR) revised its inflation forecast for the end of 2026 to 6.1%, from 5.5% previously, and noted that it expects inflation to fall to 3.4% by the end of 2027, compared with the previous forecast of 2.9%, according to data presented in August by BNR Governor Mugur Isărescu.
However, in the minutes of the monetary policy meeting of the National Bank of Romania’s (BNR) Board of Directors held on October 8, 2026, the central bank stated that the annual inflation rate would continue to rise until the end of 2026, exceeding the 6.1% forecast in August, amid higher fuel and energy prices, rising commodity prices, and exchange rate developments.
On the other hand, a day earlier, ING Romania said that the country’s economy will grow by 2.2% in 2027, following a contraction of 0.5% in 2026, and accelerate to 2.4% in 2028
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