Eurostat: Romania posts 3.5% annual inflation rate in Sept., close to EU average

Romania’s annual inflation rate was 3.5 percent in September, close to the EU annual inflation rate of 3.3 percent, according to Eurostat. In September 2011, the lowest annual rates were reported in Ireland with 1.3 percent, Sweden with 1.5 percent and the Czech Republic with 2.1 percent, while the highest inflation rate was reported in Estonia with 5.4 percent and Lithuania with 4.7 percent. However, Romania reported one of the highest 12-month averages up to September 2011, of 6.9 percent, over Estonia - 5.2 percent, while the lowest 12-month averages were reported in Ireland with 0.6 percent, Sweden with 1.6 percent, and the Czech Republic and Slovenia, both with 1.9 percent. See the entire Eurostat report here (PDF version). According to the Romanian National Statistics Institute the food products in Romania were 1.72 percent more expensive in September, while non-food products grew in price by 4.84 percent. The month-on-month consumer prices went down by 0.21 percent, as food was 1.18 percent cheaper and non-food products were 0.24 percent more expensive, according to statistics. The annual inflation rate was of 4.25 percent in August. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com (photo source: Sxc.hu)