Food Prices in Romania Higher Than in Italy – Major Impact on Pensioners

Romania is facing an unprecedented situation: basic foodstuffs have come to cost more in Romanian supermarkets than in those in Italy, a country considered far more economically developed.

With an inflation rate of 10.9% in May, our country remains first in the European Union in terms of price increases, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics. This situation places enormous pressure on household budgets, particularly those of the most vulnerable social groups.

Pensioners are among those hardest hit by these price rises. With average pensions of around 1,800 RON, elderly people are facing a severe erosion of their purchasing power, forcing them to radically restructure their spending habits.

Basic foodstuffs, which account for a substantial portion of pensioners' budgets, have seen dramatic price increases. This situation is prompting many pensioners to forgo products essential to a balanced diet, thereby compromising their health.

The comparison with Italy becomes all the more concerning when one considers the difference in incomes. Whilst food prices are similar to or even higher than those in Romania, wages and pensions remain significantly lower than those in the Italian peninsula.

Experts warn that this trend could lead to a deeper social crisis, affecting primarily the segment of the population on fixed and low incomes — the category into which the majority of Romanian pensioners fall.