Inflation will rise to 7.9% in 2026, affecting pensioners' purchasing power

The National Commission for Strategy and Forecasting has announced a worrying revision to its inflation forecast for 2026, raising estimates to 7.9% — 1.4 percentage points above its previous projections from last autumn.

This rise in inflation will have a particularly severe impact on Romanian pensioners and older adults, whose fixed incomes will be significantly eroded by the widespread increase in the cost of goods and services. The purchasing power of pensions will fall substantially, affecting elderly people's ability to meet their essential needs.

The upward revision was driven by the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, which is disrupting global supply chains and intensifying pressure on energy and food prices — categories of expenditure that account for a large proportion of pensioner households' budgets.

For older adults on low incomes, this inflationary trend means that medications, healthcare services, household utility bills, and basic foodstuffs will become increasingly difficult to cover from current pension payments.

Experts are urging the government to introduce social protection measures for vulnerable groups, including more frequent pension adjustments or compensation for rising prices on essential products for elderly people.