Consumer prices continued to increase in October, leading to an annual inflation rate of 2.6%, up from 1.8% in September, given the price increases for foodstuff by 3.52% and non-food goods by 3.26%, the National Statistics Institute (INS) informs on Friday.
The prices for services increased by 0.33%.
The average increase of consumer prices in the past 12 months against the previous 12 months, calculated by CPI is 0.7%. Determined on HICP basis the average rate is 0.6%.
In October the prices increased against September by 1.28% (foodstuff prices up by 2.30%, non-food goods up by 1.74%).
The National Bank of Romania (BNR) has revised on Thursday, upwards, the forecast for inflation rate this year to 2.7%, up from 1.9% previously.
Potatoes, eggs and fresh fruits have registered the highest price increases as foodstuff in October as compared to the previous month, while in the non-food goods category, the most severe price increases were recorded by electricity, heating and fuels.
Thus, the prices of vegetables and canned vegetables increased by 7.66%, whereas the prices of eggs grew by 6.63%, prices of fresh fruits by 6.19% and of potatoes by 5.41%. Price increases were also recorded for butter (+4.80%), fruit and canned fruits (+2.54%) and dairy products (+1.07%) and sheep cheese (feta cheese) by 1.05 %.
In the non-food goods segment, the price of electricity increased by 6.94%, of fuel by 3.47% and of heating energy by 1.96%.