Services and electricity prices drive consumer pressure
Romania’s annual inflation rate reached 9.62% in January 2026, slightly lower compared to the same month last year, according to data released by the Institutul Național de Statistică (INS).
The highest price increases were recorded in services, up 11.59%, followed by non-food goods (+9.99%) and food products (+7.86%).
Among food items, coffee (+24.66%), fresh fruit (+17.14%), sugar products and honey (+13.83%), eggs (+13.06%) and beef (+11.99%) posted the sharpest rises. Potatoes saw a notable decline of 10.77%.
Read also: 10 years of steady growth for Romania’s largest coffee chain
In services, railway tickets (+24.40%), hygiene and cosmetic products (+17.75%), industrial services (+16.84%) and car repairs (+14.67%) led the increases. Postal services were the only category showing a decrease (-3.44%).
Electricity prices surged 59.33%, following the removal of price caps, making energy the most significant contributor within non-food goods. No price decreases were recorded in this segment.
Photo: freepik.com
