site.btaRomanians Will Celebrate Most Expensive Easter in 30 Years

Romanians will have the most expensive Easter in 30 years, the country's economists warn, adding that traditional products for the festive meal have risen by between 10% and 30%. They point to inflation, which has reached twice the European Union average and pushed up prices for traditional Easter foods, as the main reason, Romanian media report.

Farmers and traders, on the other hand, argue rising production costs. Prices of seeds, farm machinery, electricity and gas have doubled.

Because of all this, Romanians are recalculating their Easter budgets. Some consumers are being forced to reduce the amount of produce they buy or even to give up meat.

More expensive are Easter bread, cheese, margarine, seasonal fruits and vegetables. A kilo of cheese, for example, costs as much as a kilo of lamb at markets in Suceava, RomaniaTV reported. Green onions, parsley and fennel also range between RON 2-3 (BGN 0.80-1.20) per bunch, while green salad can go for RON 6 (BGN 2.4). A kilo of Easter bread costs an average RON 100 (BGN 40).

A study conducted by a Romanian bank and quoted by AGERPRES shows that Romanians spend an average of BGN 800 (BGN 320) on Easter. Over RON 900 (BGN 360) is the budget for families with children.

At the same time, four out of ten Romanians who spend over RON 1,000 (BGN 400 prefer to spend Easter in a restaurant, on holiday in the country or abroad.