The lowest price level was registered in Bulgaria, accounting for 48% of the EU average, nearly 10 percentage points below Romania, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
In 2013, price levels for consumer goods and services differed widely across Member States. Denmark had the highest price level (140% of the EU28 average), followed by Sweden (130%), Luxembourg and Finland (both 123%).
Price levels of 10% to 20% above the EU28 average were found in Ireland (118%), the United Kingdom (114%) and the Netherlands (110%), while Belgium and France (both 109%), Austria (107%), Italy (103%) and Germany (102%) had levels less than 10% above the average.
Spain (95%) was just below the EU28 average, while Greece (89%), Cyprus and Portugal (both 86%), Slovenia (83%), Estonia and Malta (both 80%) were between 10% and 20% below. Price levels at around 30% to 35% below the average were observed in the Czech Republic, Latvia and Slovakia (all 71%), Croatia (68%) and Lithuania (65%), and levels at around 40% below in Hungary (60%), Poland and Romania (both 57%). The lowest price level was found in Bulgaria (48%).
Prices of consumer electronics on the Romanian market accounted for 101% of the EU average, according to data for 2013, above price levels in Germany and Luxembourg (94%), Austria (95%), as well as Spain, Italy and Portugal (99%).
As regards clothing, Romania and Spain are on the same level (87% of the EU average). Only in Bulgaria (82%) and Hungary (75%), price levels are lower in Romania.
In 2013, Romanians paid 87% of the EU average on personal transport equipment (vehicles, motor cycles and bicycles), the same as Estonians. Lower price levels were registered in Hungary (86% of the EU average), Poland and Bulgaria (both 85%), Slovakia (84%) and the Czech Republic (81%).
Price levels for alcoholic beverages and tobacco in 2013, in Romania, accounted for 74% of the EU average, among the lowest in Europe. Bulgaria (59%), as well as Lithuania and Poland (both 73%) have price levels for this type of products lower than Romania’s.
Romanians paid 69% of the EU average for food and non-alcoholic beverages, the same price level registered in Bulgaria. Only Poland (62%) has lower price levels than Romania’s.
For restaurants and hotels, price variations were more significant, with price levels ranging from 47% of the average in Bulgaria to 149% of the average in Denmark. Romania’s price levels for services provided by hotels and restaurants accounted for 52% of the EU average.
According to Eurostat, Romania’s GDP per capital at the purchasing power parity stood at 54% of the EU average in 2013. Bulgaria was the only country with a lower level, of 47%.
The data in this article are based on the results of price surveys covering more than 2400 consumer goods and services across Europe, which are part of the Eurostat-OECD Purchasing Power Parity program.