Romania’s Feb CPI + 0.2% On Mo, +4.5% On Yr

The figures came in slightly below the median forecasts of Romanian analysts, who saw the monthly inflation rising to 0.3% and the annual rate slowing down to 4.6%.

In January, Romanian CPI spiked by an unexpected 1.68% on the month, mainly due to a 14% increase in tobacco and cigarette prices, while the annual inflation widened to 5.2%.

Food and non-food prices inched up 0.2% each in February, while service prices were flat on the month, the Wednesday data showed.

The harmonized index of consumer prices, or HICP, stood at 5.3% at the end of February, from 5.4% the month before.

Romania’s central bank targets an annual inflation of 3.5% in 2010, with one percentage point variation band around the target. The bank forecasts the rate will came in at 3.5% at the end of December.