Economy
IMF cuts growth forecast for Romania
The IMF projects that Romania's economy will grow by 1% in 2025 and 1.4% in 2026, according to a report released at the end of a mission in the country.
Romania's annual inflation rate rose to 9.9% in August, up from 7.84% in July, driven by growth of prices for non-food goods (10.48%), services (9.85%), and food products (8.92%).
Romania's trade deficit grew by 7.1% in the first seven months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, reaching €19.3 billion, which was €1.2 billion higher year-on-year.
Romania's economy has secured the third-highest GDP growth rate in the EU during Q2, according to Eurostat.
Trade between Romania and Germany saw a 1.9% decrease in H1 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to the Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The non-performing loan (NPL) rate in the Romanian banking sector reached 2.81% at the end of June 2025, up from 2.53% in March 2025, also up from the 2.49% rate.
Romania's consolidated general budget execution closed the first seven months of 2025 with a nominal deficit of RON 76.44 billion (€15.34 billion), an increase of RON 5.4 billion.
Romania's government has proposed a new fiscal package aimed at reducing the budget deficit, which includes significant changes to profit taxation for multinational companies.
The wholesale trade sector experienced an overall decline in H1 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
Romania's GDP recorded an increase in Q2 2025, according to flash estimates from the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
Romania's inflation rate is expected to reach a peak of 9.6-9.7% in September, and will likely remain above 9% by the end of the year.
Romania's trade deficit widened to €16.71 billion in H1 2025, an increase of €1.61 billion (+10.7%) compared to the same period in 2024.
The Board of the National Bank of Romania (BNR) decided on Friday to maintain the monetary policy interest rate at 6.50% per year.
Three out of four Romanians traveling abroad this summer have chosen Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, or Italy as their destination, finds a recent CEC Bank survey.
The Government has announced the death of former Romanian President Ion Iliescu. The former Head of State passed away on August 5 at the "Prof. Dr. Agrippa Ionescu" Clinical Emergency Hospital.
Citi Romania has implemented three GenAI tools for its employees, as part of a significant global investment designed to simplify workflows and streamline daily tasks.
Romania's inflation rate, already among the highest in CEE at 5.8% as of June 2025, is projected to rise sharply, could potentially reach close to 9% in the coming months.
Romania is bracing for a period of economic stagnation in 2025, with growth forecasts significantly dampened by new fiscal austerity measures.
Romania's fiscal package is expected to have a substantial budgetary impact, estimated at 1.1% of GDP this year and 3.5% in 2026, finds an analysis by Fitch Ratings.
The average net salary in Romania decreased by 2.5% to RON 5,508 (€1,109.91) in May, compared to April 2025, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
The annual inflation rate in Romania rose to 5.7% in June 2025, up from 5.45% in May.
Romania has officially joined the InvestEU Ukraine Export Credit Guarantee Facility, a joint initiative by the European Commission and the European Investment Fund (EIF).
Romania's trade deficit rose by 16.4% in the first five months of this year compared to the same period last year, reaching €14.32 billion.
Romania is moving closer to achieving fiscal-budgetary rebalancing, according to a recent report by the international rating agency Moody's.
The Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe (CESEE) banking sector is demonstrating remarkable resilience and growth potential.
The government has greenlit a memorandum to approve a €500 million financing contract between Romania and the European Investment Bank (EIB) to support the A1 Sibiu-Pitești motorway project.
Vastint Romania has joined a wider initiative for the revitalisation of the Dâmbovița River, its banks, and surrounding areas.
DRUID AI, the developer of an enterprise AI platform, has secured a $31 million Series C financing round to propel the global expansion of its agentic platform.
Exim Banca Românească has provided approximately €14 million in financing for a new greenfield investment.
Coca-Cola HBC Romania has completed an investment of RON 5 million (€1 million) in a new photovoltaic park at its plant in Timișoara.