The annual inflation rate surged strongly in July to 7.84%. Compared to June, inflation jumped by 2.7%.
The highest price increases over the past year were recorded in non-food goods at 8.18%. Service prices rose by 7.33%, while food prices increased by 7.67%, according to Economedia.
Regarding food, the highest increases over the past year were seen in fresh fruits at 39.74%, followed by fruits and fruit preserves at 27.92%, and citrus fruits at 17.32%.
The price of bread increased by 6.43% compared to July 2024, while the price of coffee rose by 13.05% in July compared to the same period last year.
In the services category, the highest price increases in July 2025 compared to the same month in 2024 were noted in train travel, with CFR ticket prices increasing by 16.92%.
Hygiene and cosmetics services became more expensive by 14.06%, followed by postal services at 12.15%. Auto repairs also increased by 11.06%, rents rose by 8.49% over the past year, and medical care became more expensive by 10.59%.
For non-food goods, the highest price hikes were recorded in electricity tariffs, with an increase of 62.97% after the removal of the electricity price capping scheme.
Heating energy increased its tariffs by 13.63%, prices also rose for knitwear by 7.36%, detergents by 5.21%, tobacco and cigarettes by 5.82%. Medications also saw a price increase of 2.93% in July.
The National Bank of Romania (BNR) announced last week that inflation will experience a significant increase in the third quarter of the year, due to two main factors: the expiration of the electricity price capping and the increase in VAT and excise duties starting from August 1, 2025.
According to the BNR report, this increase will be followed by a relatively slow decrease in inflation over the following quarters.
"The annual inflation rate will experience a significant jump in the third quarter of 2025 (...), and over the next three quarters, it will decrease relatively slowly and on a considerably higher fluctuating trajectory than in the previous projection," the report states.