Romania: EU’s Lowest Prices for Food and Non-Alcoholic Drinks in 2022

Romania and Bulgaria recorded the lowest prices for consumer goods and services within the EU in 2022, being 41% below the EU average, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics published on Friday. Romania is followed by Poland, with prices 38% below the EU average.

On the other hand, Denmark recorded the highest prices for household final consumption (49% above the EU average), followed by Ireland (42% above the EU average), Luxembourg (37% above the EU average), and Finland (26% above the EU average).

“Price level indices express how many units of the same currency are needed to buy an identical volume of goods and services in different countries, for each group of goods and services. In 2022, 100 euros are paid for consumer goods and services in the composition of final consumption at the level of the European Union, and at the two extremes, 149 euros in Denmark and 59 euros respectively in Romania and Bulgaria”, states the INS document, which quotes a Eurostat statement.

According to Eurostat, Romania is the cheapest member state for the “Food and non-alcoholic beverages” group (72%), followed by Poland (73%), and at the opposite pole are Denmark and Luxembourg, with the highest level of prices for this group of products (121%).

Bulgaria records the lowest price level for the groups “Alcoholic beverages and tobacco” (66%), “Clothing and footwear” (80%) and “Home maintenance, water, electricity, gas and other fuels” (38%), followed by by Poland, for the groups “Alcoholic beverages and tobacco” (73%) and “Home maintenance, water, electricity, gas and other fuels” (39%).