Consumer prices edged 0.5% higher on average in July 2026 compared to June 2026.
Compared to July 2025, services continued to see the highest price increases, of 13.6%, non-food items were 7.9% more expensive and food prices rose by 5.03%.
For foodstuffs, coffee saw the biggest annual price increase in July 2026, of 19.4%, being followed by eggs (+13.9%), beef (+11.6%), cow’s milk (+11.2%), poultry meat (+6.2%), cooking oil (+6.5%), canned meat (+6.7%), and pork (+3.4%).
Prices also increased for brandy and other spirits (+8.87)%, sugar and honey products (+8.8%), bread (+7.9%), beer (+7.8%), and fresh fish (+7.5%).
Some products, however, became cheaper. Sugar prices fell by 0.25%, butter by 0.53%, flour by 4.3%, and cornmeal by 4.9%. The biggest price declines were recorded for potatoes (-13.6%), and fresh fruit (-13.8%).
For non-food items, diesel prices increased by 30.7% compared with July 2025, while gasoline became 23.1% more expensive. Electricity prices rose by 3.3% over the past year, significantly below price hikes of over 50% recorded in the previous months following the removal of the price-capping support scheme. Fuel prices overall surged by 16.8%, while heat energy became 10.7% more expensive. Books, newspapers and magazines recorded 10.8% price hikes.
Prices rose by 9.9% for detergents and by 8.5% for tobacco and cigarettes, while hygiene products and cosmetics were 6.8% more expensive. Medicine prices climbed by 4.3%.
The sharpest increases in the services category were recorded for rents, which grew by 42.4% in July 2026 compared with July 2025.
Water, sewerage and waste collection services became 15.9% more expensive, car repair services prices jumped by 13.8% and hygiene and cosmetic services prices by 14.1%.
Clothing and footwear manufacturing and repair services prices advanced by 14.3%, while healthcare services became 12.4% more expensive.
Road transport costs rose by 12.2%, urban transport by 7.4%, and postal services by 9.1%. Airfares were 2.3% higher in July 2026 than in July 2025, but surged by 18.7% in July 2026 compared with June 2026.
The inflation rate since the beginning of the year (July 2026 compared to December 2025) is 4.4%.
The average rate of change in consumer prices over the last 12 months (August 2025-July 2026) as compared to the previous 12 months (August 2024-July 2025) is 9.8%.
The Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices in July 2026 compared to June 2026 is 100.42%.
The HICP-based annual inflation rate in July 2026 compared to July 2025 is 8.2%.
The average rate of change in consumer prices over the last 12 months (August 2025-July 2026) as compared to the previous 12 months (August 2024-July 2025) is 8.8%.
According to the Romanian central bank’s forecasts, “the annual inflation rate will see a substantial downward correction in Q3/2026, as previously anticipated, once the direct effects from the expiry of the electricity price capping scheme and the increases in VAT rates and excise duties have faded away. Moreover, after slightly fluctuating in Q4/2026, it is expected to gradually decrease, re-entering the variation band of the target at end-2027, under the impact of disinflationary base effects associated with the recent price hikes induced by the energy shock, as well as amid the strengthening of underlying disinflationary pressures.”