Vegetables and fruit increasingly expensive: tomatoes exceed 9 RON, peppers exceed 15 RON/kg

The rising cost of electricity is being felt ever more strongly across Romanian markets, pushing up the prices of the products people buy most frequently: fruit and vegetables. Purchasing power has fallen, and shoppers are beginning to make more careful choices at the stall.

According to the report, a kilogram of tomatoes now costs over 9 RON, whilst a kilogram of peppers requires over 15 RON. One shopper recounted their surprise at the price of a kilogram of horseradish, which had reached 50 RON, having paid 15 RON for just a single root.

Empty stalls, discouraged vendors

In some markets across the capital, stalls have been left bare, with no fruit or vegetables on display. The explanation appears to be that producers no longer find it profitable to bring their goods to market, given the rising costs involved.

Many shoppers say they are giving up certain products or reducing the quantities they buy in response to the price increases.

What lies ahead

Economics specialists quoted in the article warn that further price rises are expected in autumn, as production costs increase with the arrival of the colder season.