Annual inflation rate down to 5.65 pct in Feb

Year-on-year inflation rate in Romania stood at 5.65 percent in Feb. 2013, down compared to 5.97 percent reported at end-Jan, according to figures published by the National Statistics Institute (INS) on Tuesday.

In Feb. 2013, prices advanced 0.34 percent against Jan. 2013, as a result of a 0.24 percent rise in food prices, a 0.42 percent increase in non-food prices and a 0.22 percent rise in service prices.

Average monthly inflation rate over the first 2 months of 2013 was 0.8 percent, compared with 0.5 percent in the similar period of the year before.

Average increase in prices per total over the past 12 months (March 2012 - Feb. 2013) compared to the previous 12 months (March 2011 - Feb. 2012) based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) stands at 3.9 percent and that based on the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) totals 3.8 percent.

The National Prognosis Commission projected for 2013 an average year-on-year inflation rate of 4.3 percent, with the increase of consumption prices being estimated at 3.5 percent at the end of 2013, according to the 2013-2016 Winter Prognosis.

The Central Bank forecasts an annual inflation rate of 5.2 percent for the end of Q1, 2013 and of 5.9 percent for Q2 (end of interval). The Central Bank foresees an annual inflation rate of 3.5 percent for the last two quarters.

Adapted from: AGERPRES