August 11, 2017

The annual rate of inflation in Romania is 1.4%; Romania still struggles with a record heat wave

Ştefan Stoica, 11.08.2017, 13:16

BUCHAREST — The minister in charge of the affairs of Romanians abroad, Andreea Pastarnac, is today in the city of Neamt to discuss the campaign she launched in support of Romanians working abroad. She has scheduled meetings with local and central authorities, as well as diplomats from countries with large Romanian communities. At the end of 2016, Neamt county ranked first in terms of citizens working abroad, as many as 70,000 according to Radio Romania. The campaign aimed at Romanians abroad started with a pilot project in Botosani and Suceava, expanding throughout the country. The countries with the largest Romanian communities are Italy and Spain.

INFLATION — The annual rate of inflation was 1.4% in July, up 0.85% as compared to the previous month, according to the National Institute of Statistics. The average price for consumer goods in the last 12 months, August 2016- July 2017, as compared to the previous period is 0.1%. We recall that the National Bank of Romania has reviewed its forecast of inflation for the end of this year to 1.9%, as compared to its previous figure, of 1.6%. For the end of 2018, the National Bank estimates a rate of inflation of 3.2%, with an expected rate of 3.5% for early 2019.

WEATHER — In Romania, the heat wave will expand over most of the territory. In low lying areas, the heat index will exceed the critical threshold of 80, especially in the west, south west and the rest of the country. Skies are mostly clear, with isolated showers in the mountains. A code orange alert is in effect in six counties in the west, and a code yellow alert in 24 counties in the rest of the country, including the capital city. Maximums are between 29 and 38 degrees Celsius. Starting Saturday, the weather is expected to become unstable in the west and south west, with thunderstorms predicted. The noon reading in Bucharest was 31 degrees.

TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, number two in the world, goes to the quarter finals of the tournament in Toronto, playing against Caroline Garcia of France, 21st seeded. She qualified by defeating Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic, 26th seeded. Halep, the second favorite in the competition, won the Rogers Cup last year in Montreal. The Rogers Cup is Premier 5 category tournament, the third most important after the Grand Slam and the Premier Mandatory.

BRUSSELS — The European commissioner in charge of food safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis, called a meeting of officials in charge of consumer protection to discuss the issue of contaminated eggs. Tensions have escalated between Belgium, Holland and Germany after traces of a moderately toxic insecticide have been found in batches of eggs. Millions of eggs from Belgium and Holland have been pulled off the shelves as a result. Denmark, Slovakia, as well as Romania have found contaminated eggs as well. In Timis county, in western Romania, over a ton of liquid egg yolk from Germany was seized after it was found to be contaminated.

SUMMER — The seventh edition of the Summer Well 2017 starts today near Bucharest, with a concert of the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra. The vacation festival, ending on Sunday, is headlined by US band Interpol and British band Editors. On Saturday, concerts will be held by Oh Wonder, Honne, The Kills, Metronomy and Interpol. The latter, a post-punk band, has sold over two million albums. Rock band Editors, playing on Sunday, has issued five albums so far, two of which went platinum. The last band to play in the Summer Well 2017 will be The Bloody Beetroots.