Rising fuel prices in January 2025 hit pensioners with higher transport costs

The start of 2025 brings a fresh financial challenge for Romania's senior citizens. With the scheduled increase in fuel excise duties, pensioners are facing a significant impact on their already tight budgets — particularly those who rely on personal or public transport.

Tax rises with a direct impact

The excise duty on petrol has risen from 2.78 RON to 3.06 RON per litre, and on diesel from 2.55 RON to 2.80 RON per litre. This increase of roughly 30–35 bani per litre means a standard 50-litre tank now costs 15–17 RON more to fill. For seniors who use their car for medical appointments or shopping trips, this difference adds up quickly.

Effects on public transport

Pensioners who depend on public transport will also feel the effects of these increases. Bus and minibus fares are expected to rise in the early months of the year, as a consequence of higher operating costs for both public and private transport operators.

A chain reaction of rising prices for everyday goods

The most significant impact on pensioners' budgets will come from the knock-on effect on food and medicine prices. Specialists estimate that this 5% rise in excise duty could push consumer goods prices up by as much as 1%, as transport operators pass their additional costs on to distributors.

For seniors living on small pensions — who already spend a large proportion of their income on basic necessities — these successive price increases represent yet further financial pressure in an already difficult economic climate. Many will be forced to reassess their budgets and cut back on non-essential journeys.