Gandul
„This is a vulnerability which may deteriorate at any moment, especially since we want to fight the causes leading to a high inflation and not the effects. The cause is not the actual increase in the value added tax, but the fact that, as social security contributions aren’t enough, we need to provide the funds from other resources, other taxes,” Isarescu told MEDIAFAX.
He said the high inflation in 2010 was largely due to increased excise duties for tobacco and oil items, together with a higher VAT rate and additional taxation.
Romanian inflation peaked to a record high of 7.96% in December 2010, after the government raised the VAT rate to 24% from 19% previously.
End-2009, the annual inflation came in at 4.74%.