March 11 (SeeNews) - Romania's consumer prices rose by 3.05% year-on-year in February, compared to an increase of 3.6% in the previous month, the national statistical office, INS, said on Wednesday.
Food prices rose 4.09% year-on-year in February, while non-food prices added 2.04%, INS said in a statement.
Prices of services grew by 3.84%.
On a monthly comparison basis, Romania's consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.25% in February, as food prices were 0.63% higher, non-food prices were flat, and prices of services edged up by 0.39%.
The average consumer price inflation over the last 12 months was 3.8%, INS said.
Romania's central bank said in February that it has decided to lower its 2020 inflation forecast to 3.0% from 3.1% predicted in November, still within its target band of 1.5-3.5%.
The central bank expects that consumer prices will rise by 3.2% next year.
On February 7, the central bank decided to keep its monetary policy rate unchanged at 2.50%. The central ban last changed its key rate in May 2018, increasing it to 2.50% from 2.25%.
(1 euro=4.8170 lei)