Annual inflation at 8.6% in December, unchanged from November
Annual inflation in the European Union edged down to 2.3% in December, but Romania continues to record the highest inflation rate in the bloc, at 8.6%, unchanged from November, according to data published by Eurostat and cited by Agerpres.
The lowest annual inflation rates were reported in Cyprus (0.1%), France (0.7%) and Italy (1.2%). At the opposite end of the spectrum, Romania was followed by Slovakia (4.1%) and Estonia (4%).
Read also: Romania enters final stages of OECD accession process
Compared with November 2025, annual inflation declined in 18 EU member states, remained stable in three countries – including Romania – and increased in six.
In the euro area, annual inflation fell to 1.9% in December, below the medium-term target of the European Central Bank. Services contributed the most to inflation, adding 1.54 percentage points, followed by food, alcohol and tobacco with 0.49 percentage points, while energy prices made a negative contribution of 0.18 percentage points.
Romania’s inflation, according to INS and BNR
Data from the National Institute of Statistics show that Romania’s annual inflation rate eased slightly to 9.69% in December, from 9.76% in November. Services prices rose by 11%, non-food goods by 10.48%, and food prices by 7.75%.
“Annual inflation in December 2025 compared to December 2024 stood at 9.7%. The average rate of change in consumer prices over the past 12 months was 7.3%,” the INS said.
Based on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), Romania’s annual inflation rate was 8.6% in December, with a 12-month average of 6.8%.
Romania’s central bank, the National Bank of Romania, revised its end-2025 inflation forecast upward to 9.6% and expects inflation to fall to 3.7% by the end of 2026, according to statements made in November by Governor Mugur Isărescu.
Photo: freepik.com
