From our special correspondent in Bucharest,
Move on (if you have any fuel left), there is nothing to see. In Bucharest, capital of Romania, the issue of fuel prices is proving explosive. The manager of a small Petrom service station rushes towards us to stop the interviews of customers who follow one another at the pump. “You have no right to ask questions like that,” he cries, believing that it is “wrong” and that Petrom could “punish him for that.” However, fuel price inflation is an open secret in the country.
In the street, in cafes or at the pump, Romanians are all seeing a deterioration in the economy. Already in March 2026, the Stirile website noted the increase in prices at the pump since the war in Iran, with gasoline exceeding 8 lei (1.5 euros) per liter. It is now flirting around 10 lei (1.90 euros) and 11 lei (more than 2 euros) per liter for diesel. “Two weeks ago, diesel even went up to 13 lei per liter,” says Denis, 32, annoyed.
A “question of survival”
While there are variations depending on the service station, these prices, which are close to European standards, prove particularly difficult for Romanians to bear. Last July, the minimum wage was increased to 2,699 lei net (or 530 euros), far from keeping up with inflation. Even for a person with a median salary, a 50 liter tank of diesel can represent nearly 15% of their monthly income. “The price of gasoline keeps increasing, but our salaries never stop! », complains Gabriel, VTC driver.
The car of Florin, a taxi driver, runs on diesel. “It’s become a huge problem,” sighs the man, narrowing his blue eyes. And for me, it’s my job. How can I get out of this? », he asks himself before rushing into his vehicle for another race. “It’s not even a question of money anymore, it’s a question of survival now. And I’m not even the most to be pitied,” sighs his VTC colleague.
In Constanta, on the edge of the Black Sea, Nicolas believes that “the problem is not so much the increase in prices as wages”. The young man, who studies law and management, wants to leave for the capital as soon as he finishes his studies. “Here, we have no professional opportunities, we are stuck with low salaries,” he believes.
Adapt to survive
“Times are really tough. But we are not going to start breaking everything,” laughs Gabriel, in reference to the French high school student mobilizations whose excesses are particularly highlighted in Romania. For him, the solution is simple: “We have to adapt. Here it is: work more and eat less. » Because Romanians are reluctant to mobilize to protest against the cost of living. In the summer of 2022, calls were made to boycott gas stations on certain days. The “full at 1 leu” operation was also launched.
It consisted of filling your tank with a ridiculous amount of fuel while monopolizing the pump with legal methods: slowly checking your tire pressure or carefully cleaning your windshield. Anything to slow down the queue and the profits of the oil companies. But rather than organizing collectively, Romanians prefer to adapt individually. “Many people can no longer go out with their car, so leave it at home to save money. And to go to work? Well, you just have to use public transport,” says Denis. Gabriel admits to having given up on his social life to save money.
Increasingly expensive products
The situation is all the more difficult for Romanians as a massive part of their products are transported by road. When fuel prices rise, the prices of many commodities automatically follow. “With the same amount as two or three years ago, I only buy a third of what I bought before,” sighs Gabriel.
In September, inflation was estimated at 6.61% year-on-year in Romania, with an explosion in the prices of certain products. Thus, coffee saw an increase of 13%, eggs by 10.8% and fish by 5.3%. Even more worrying, rents have increased by almost 40% and running water by more than 14%. Unable to pay her rent in Brasov, a city located in a mountainous region of the country, Gabriela says she returned to Constanta to live in a shared apartment with her sister. “Most people I know haven't had to move, but they are unable to buy in this economic environment. »
Denis even suspects the government of minimizing the problem of inflation in its reports “to avoid suffering a downgrade in our rating”. A little further into the gas station, a fifty-year-old leans over to grab his wallet from his car. “For me, it’s not that much of a problem,” he says with a smile. And added with a movement of the chin: “It’s a company car. » A luxury that very few Romanians can rely on.
