Romania’s annual inflation rate accelerated to 10.9% in May 2026, up from 10.7% in April, reaching its highest level since April 2023. The increase was driven mainly by higher prices for non-food goods (12.5% vs 12% in April), especially household products, furniture (5.3% vs 5.2%), chemicals (8.2% vs 7.6%), cultural and sporting goods (8.5% vs 8.1%), hygiene, cosmetic and medical items (6.2% vs 5.9%), and fuels (19.2% vs 15.7%). Service prices also rose (13.5% vs 13%).
By contrast, inflation for food products eased to 6.8% from 7.4%, reflecting slower price increases for milling and bakery products (7.3% vs 7.8%), fruit and canned fruit (5.5% vs 9.6%), sugar, confectionery and honey (10.6% vs 11.1%), cocoa and coffee (21.1% vs 22.5%), and alcoholic beverages (7.7% vs 7.9%).
On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.6% in May, after rising 0.8% in April. Meanwhile, the HICP-based annual inflation rate edged up to 9.7% from 9.5% in the previous month.
