Annual inflation rate goes down to 4.86pct in March 2025
The annual inflation rate dropped to 4.86% in March 2025, from 5.02% in February, as food prices rose by 5.10%, non-food prices by 3.84%, and services by 6.99%, according to data published on Friday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
"The consumer price index stood at 100.27% in March 2025 compared to February 2025. The inflation rate since the beginning of the year (March 2025 compared to December 2024) was 2.1%. The annual inflation rate in March 2025 compared to March 2024 was 4.9%. The average rate of change in consumer prices in the last 12 months (April 2024 - March 2025) compared to the previous 12 months (April 2023 - March 2024) was 5.1%," the press release says.
According to the INS, the harmonized consumer price index in March 2025 compared to February 2025 was 100.34%. The annual inflation rate in March 2025 compared to March 2024 calculated based on the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) was 5.1%. The average rate of change in consumer prices in the last 12 months (April 2024 - March 2025) compared to the previous 12 months (April 2023 - March 2024) determined on the basis of the HICP was 5.4%.
The National Bank of Romania (BNR) has revised upwards, to 3.8%, from 3.5% previously, the inflation forecast for the end of 2025 and anticipates that it will reach 3.1% at the end of 2026, according to data presented in February by the BNR (National Bank of Romania) governor, Mugur Isarescu.
According to the same source, the revision for December 2025 is +0.3 percentage points, determined mainly by price increases at the beginning of the year (tobacco products, services with administered prices), but also by a more pronounced persistent dynamics of core inflation, partially counterbalanced by slightly more optimistic prospects in the LFO segment.