Consumer prices rose by 0.8pct in January 2019 compared to December last year, while annual inflation stood at 3.3pct, amid a rise in food prices by 3.77pct, in non-food goods by 3.29pct and in services by 2.71pct, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics published on Wednesday.

The average consumer prices over the last 12 months (February 2018 - January 2019) as compared to the previous 12 months (February 2017 - January 2018), calculated on the basis of the CPI, is 4.5pct.

The National Bank of Romania (BNR) recently raised the 3pct inflation forecast for the end of this year and estimates an inflation of 3.1 for the end of next year, BNR Governor Mugur Isarescu announced earlier this week when presenting the Quarterly Inflation Report.

In November 2018, the BNR estimated an inflation of 2.9pct for the end of this year and 3.2pct for 2020. AGERPRES (RO - editor: Andreea Marinescu; EN - author: Bogdan Gabaroi, editor: Simona Iacob)