Romania’s annual inflation rate, which measures the evolution of consumer prices over the last 12 months, rose to 0.6% in April, the highest level since May 2015, according to data published yesterday by the National Statistics Institute (INS).

Food prices had a mixed evolution during the Easter period whereas the gas prices rose by 2.5% after the liberalization of gas prices for household consumers as of April 1.

In March, the annual inflation rate amounted to 0.2%. Consumer prices increased by 0.28% in April over March.

Prices of non-food goods rose by 0.4% in April over the previous month, whereas food prices went up by 0.19%. Food prices increased by 2.24% compared to April last year whereas the prices of non-food goods went up by 0.25% year-on-year.

April 2017 is the fourth month that no longer includes the effects of reducing the general VAT rate from 24% to 20% starting 1 January 2016.

editor@romania-insider.com