Eurostat: Inflation in Romania exceeded EU average in March
The annual inflation rate in EU went up in March to 7.8%, from 6.2% in February, member countries with the highest rates being Lithuania (15.6%), Estonia (14.8%), Czech Republic (11.9%), the Netherlands (11.7%), Latvia (11.5%), Bulgaria (10.5%), Poland (10.2%), Spain (9.8%) and Romania (9.6%), according to data published by Eurostat on Thursday.
In comparison to the February 2022 situation, the annual inflation rate grew in 25 member states, Romania included, from 7.9% to 9.6%. In March 2021, the annual inflation rate in EU was 1.7% and in Romania it was 2.5%.
In the euro zone, the annual inflation rate grew to 7.4% in march, from 5.9% in February. A year ago the annual inflation rate in the euro zone was 1.3%. For states in the euro zone, the most significant impact on the annual price rise came from energy, where an increase of 4.36%, followed by prices of services which recorded an advance of 1.12% and the price of food, which grew by 1.07%.
Eurostat data show that core inflation in the euro zone grew by 3.2% annually, over the BCE target. Core inflation is is the indicator attentively watched by BCE in elaborating its monetary policy.
In Romania's case, the National Statistic Institute previously informed that the annual inflation rate went up to 10.15% in March 2022 from 8.53% in February, because prices of non food goods were by 10.86% more expensive, food by11.20% and services by 6.53%.
According to the source quoted, the harmonized price index of consumer goods in March 2022 against February 2022 was 101.95%. The annual inflation rate in March 2022 compared to March 2021, calculated based on the harmonized index of consumer prices is 9,6%.
BNR foresees an inflation of 11.2% at the end of quarter 2, 2022, of 10.2% in quarter 3 and 9.6% in quarter 4, 2022, according to the quarterly report on inflation.