The National Bank of Romania held its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 6.50% in May 2026, as expected, citing high uncertainty from energy markets, fiscal consolidation and geopolitical tensions. In April 2026, inflation accelerated further to 10.71% from 9.9% in March, driven by higher gas, fuel and regulated prices, alongside oil price gains, base effects and rising rents for state housing. HICP inflation also increased to 9.5%. Looking ahead, inflation is expected to rise further in Q2 2026 due to energy shocks, before falling later in the year and gradually returning to target in 2027, assuming continued disinflation from weaker demand and fiscal tightening. source: National Bank of Romania

The benchmark interest rate in Romania was last recorded at 6.50 percent. Interest Rate in Romania averaged 5.17 percent from 2005 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 12.50 percent in May of 2005 and a record low of 1.25 percent in January of 2021. This page provides the latest reported value for - Romania Interest Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Romania Interest Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on May of 2026.

The benchmark interest rate in Romania was last recorded at 6.50 percent. Interest Rate in Romania is expected to be 6.50 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Romania Interest Rate is projected to trend around 6.00 percent in 2027 and 5.50 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-02-17 01:00 PM Interest Rate Decision 6.5% 6.5% 6.5% 6.5%
2026-04-07 12:00 PM Interest Rate Decision 6.5% 6.5% 6.5%
2026-05-15 12:00 PM Interest Rate Decision 6.5% 6.5% 6.5% 6.5%
2026-07-08 12:00 PM Interest Rate Decision 6.5% 6.5%
2026-08-10 12:00 PM Interest Rate Decision
2026-10-08 12:00 PM Interest Rate Decision


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Banks Balance Sheet 1008364.55 1000928.38 RON Million Mar 2026
Cash Reserve Ratio 5.00 5.00 percent Apr 2026
Central Bank Balance Sheet 427448.61 424446.14 RON Million Mar 2026
Deposit Interest Rate 5.50 5.50 percent Apr 2026
Foreign Exchange Reserves 64836.00 67032.00 EUR Million Apr 2026
Interest Rate 6.50 6.50 percent May 2026
Lending Rate 7.50 7.50 percent Apr 2026
Loans to Private Sector 219739.40 217072.90 RON Million Mar 2026
Money Supply M0 138196.40 139315.40 RON Million Mar 2026
Money Supply M1 475779.20 475439.60 RON Million Mar 2026
Money Supply M2 793536.60 789841.00 RON Million Mar 2026
Money Supply M3 793536.60 789841.00 RON Million Mar 2026


Romania Interest Rate
In Romania, interest rates decisions are taken by the Board of the National Bank of Romania (Banca Nationala a Romaniei). The official interest rate is the Policy Rate.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
6.50 6.50 12.50 1.25 2005 - 2026 percent Daily

News Stream
Romania Keeps Interest Rate Unchanged as Expected
The National Bank of Romania held its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 6.50% in May 2026, as expected, citing high uncertainty from energy markets, fiscal consolidation and geopolitical tensions. In April 2026, inflation accelerated further to 10.71% from 9.9% in March, driven by higher gas, fuel and regulated prices, alongside oil price gains, base effects and rising rents for state housing. HICP inflation also increased to 9.5%. Looking ahead, inflation is expected to rise further in Q2 2026 due to energy shocks, before falling later in the year and gradually returning to target in 2027, assuming continued disinflation from weaker demand and fiscal tightening.
2026-05-15
NBR Keeps Rates Steady in March
The National Bank of Romania held its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 6.50% at its April 7, 2026 meeting, keeping the lending facility rate at 7.50% and the deposit facility rate at 5.50%. Annual inflation slowed to 9.31% in February from 9.69% in December 2025, driven by lower electricity and gas prices, though fuel and administered prices partially offset the decline. Core inflation edged down to 8.3% in February from 8.5% in December. Economic activity contracted 1.9% in Q4 2025, with annual GDP growth slowing to 0.2% from 1.7% in Q3. Employment declined but the ILO unemployment rate fell in January and February. The NBR expects inflation to rise through June 2026 on higher oil and gas prices before dropping sharply in Q3. The Middle East conflict and global energy crisis remain key risks to growth and inflation. The NBR stands ready to adjust policy as needed to ensure medium-term price stability.
2026-04-07
Romania Holds Interest Rate
The National Bank of Romania held its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 6.5% in its second policy meeting of 2026, keeping borrowing costs steady since concluding its cutting cycle in August of 2024. The monetary authority noted that headline inflation slowed in the fourth quarter of the previous year due to lower fuel prices, while their preferred core inflation rate was steady at the turn of the year following its slight uptick in the earlier months. The data loosely maintained the inflationary backdrop in balance with the monetary conditions from the last year. Similarly, economy-wide employment declined in the previous quarter, but the ILO-standardized unemployment rate also inched down. The BNR continued to see an uncertain outlook due to geopolitical conflicts and global trade tensions, but its base case remained that inflation will fall sharply in the third quarter of this year to return to target by the first half of 2027.
2026-02-17