Gas prices hike will trigger 30% higher prices for foodstuff, agriculture union estimates

The official said the price increase in food products will exceed the 12 percent previously announced hike, a loaf of bread being 40 percent more expensive. The increase in gas prices, coupled with the depreciation of the leu will pave the way to a 30 percent growth in prices for imported products.

Niculae emphasized 80 percent of the fruit and vegetables in Romania are imported and their prices should increase by maximum 40 percent, due to the leu’s evolution. Pork will also see 15 percent higher prices.

Natural gas operator Distrigaz Sud warned over a possible 10 percent increase of gas prices. Arnaud Bernard, the general manager of Distrigaz Sud, suggested a public decision could be made at the beginning of next month. The official noted the company is trying to hike prices in several stages, in a bid to protect consumers. A new increase is slated for April.

The European Commission called on Romania  last week to align gas prices to those existing in the EU, as it had pledged to do during its pre-accession negotiations.

Source: NewsIn