For 2013, the central bank estimates the year-end inflation will reach 3%, governor Mugur Isarescu told a news conference.
Isarescu said the annual rate will remain above 2% in the first quarter of 2012, due to higher-than-anticipated volatile prices.
“We estimate less favorable effects of volatile food prices. Therefore, the consumer price index is not expected to fall below 2% this spring,” the central bank’s governor said.
He said regulated energy and natural gas prices should have a limited impact on the inflation rate, as the government and the International Monetary Fund have agreed to delay a planned increase in prices.
Romanian annual inflation eased to 3.14% in December, comfortably within central bank’s target of 2%-4%.
The central bank targets an annual inflation of 3% at the end of 2012, plus/minus one percentage point around the band.