Slovenia had the lowest annual inflation among Southeast European (SEE) EU member states in January, at 2.3%, against an EU average of 2.8%, Eurostat data also show.
In monthly terms, Bulgaria recorded the biggest rise in consumer prices in the bloc in January, alongside Slovakia, at 1.8%.
In turn, Greece marked the sharpest monthly deflation in the SEE region, at 0.7%, while consumer prices in the EU overall were unchanged compared to December.
Inflation in the euro area is above the 2% target of the European Central Bank (ECB). Last month, the lowest annual inflation rates in the EU were recorded in Denmark (1.4%), Ireland, Italy and Finland (all 1.7%).
Compared with December 2024, the annual inflation rate fell in eight EU Member States (including Romania, from 5.5% to 5.3%), remained stable in four and increased in 15 EU Member States. Eurostat data also shows that core inflation in the euro area, i.e. what remains after volatile goods prices such as energy and food are removed, remained unchanged at 2.7% in January, a level it has been at since September.
Core inflation is the indicator closely monitored by the ECB when making its monetary policy decisions.
Romania’s central bank has revised upwards to 3.8%, from 3.5% previously, the inflation forecast for the end of 2025 and expects it will reach 3.1% at the end of 2026, as per data presented by central bank governor, Mugur Isarescu, on February 17.