Consumer prices edged 0.2% higher in August 2026 compared to July 2026.
Between August 2025 and August 2026, the largest price increases were recorded for services (+11.28%), followed by non-food goods (+6.36%) and food prices (+2.62%).
For foodstuffs, the largest price hikes between August 2025 and August 2026 continued to be recorded for coffee (+15.02%), eggs (+10.88%), beef (+8.5%), cow’s milk (+8.31%), cooking oil (+6.36%), fresh fish (+5.62%), spirits and other alcoholic beverages (+5.44%), fish and fish preserves (+5.43%), honey (+5.34%), bread (+5.09%). The alcoholic beverages category saw a 4.53% increase.
During the review period, the most significant price decreases were recorded for fresh fruit (-18.18%), potatoes (-15.21%), vegetables and vegetable preserves (-8.51%), cornmeal (-5.27%) and flour (-3.28%).
For non-food items, the highest increases between August 2025 and August 2026 were recorded for diesel (+34.61%), petrol (+25.49%), the entire fuels group (+17.03%). Other significant increases in this category were recorded for heating energy (+10.7%), watches, audio-video equipment and sports equipment (+8.6%), detergents (+6.71%), and knitwear (+6.61%). Electricity prices rose by 1.82% over the review period after surging by over 50% in the previous months. The only price decline in the non-food goods category was recorded for gas (-3.44%).
In the services category, the largest price increases between August 2025 and August 2026 were recorded for rents, which soared by 39.7%, followed by water, sewerage and waste collection services (+14.12%), and television subscriptions (+13.2%), car and electronics repairs and photographic services (+10.81%), road transport (+10.55%), motor vehicle transport (+9.86%), and rail transport (+9.79%). Air transport fares grew by 6.27% compared with August 2025 and by 25.4% compared with December 2025.
The inflation rate since the beginning of the year (August 2026 compared to December 2025) is 4.6%.
The average rate of change in consumer prices over the last 12 months (September 2025-August 2026) as compared
to the previous 12 months (September 2024-August 2025) is 9.5%.
The Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices in August 2026 compared to July 2026 is 100.26%.
The HICP-based annual inflation rate in August 2026 compared to August 2025 is 6.3%.
The average rate of change in consumer prices over the last 12 months (September 2025-August 2026) compared with the previous 12 months (September 2024-August 2025) is 8.6%.
According to the forecast of the National Bank of Romania, the annual inflation rate is expected to undergo a substantial downward correction in the third quarter of 2026, as previously anticipated, amid the fading of the direct effects of the removal of the electricity price cap and increases in VAT rates and excise duties. CFA Romania analysts anticipate a reduction in the annual inflation rate over the next 12 months, to 6.3%.