Prices for new cars in Romania fell by 2.3 percent last year, close to the average decrease of 2.5 percent registered in the European Union (EU), according to the European Commission’s latest car price report.

A total of 24 EU countries recorded a fall in real car prices, while car prices stayed stable in another two countries, Malta and Italy, both with 0.2 percent, and increased in Portugal with 2.6 percent, shows the report. The fall in real prices was particularly important in Slovakia, with a decrease of 17.4 percent, Bulgaria with -13.5 percent, Slovenia with -11.6 percent, and the Czech Republic with -9.0 percent.

The prices fell in all countries outside the Euro Zone, the lowest decrease being reported in Sweden, followed by Romania with a decrease of 2.3 percent, and Denmark.

The EU inflation was only 2.8 percent in January, compared to 7 percent in Romania, according to the report. Nominal prices fell in 13 states and rose in 14.

See the full EU analysis on price developments here.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Sxc.hu)