Moldova factory gate prices hold steady in September
Moldova’s industrial producer prices held flat in September compared to August, rising just 0.7% over the first nine months of the year, official data showed.
Factory-gate costs edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reflecting subdued production costs across manufacturing, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The overall stability comes despite diverging sector trends, with plunging energy prices offsetting gains in raw materials.
Divergent industrial trends
Mining and quarrying registered the sharpest climb from December 2025 levels, jumping 8.6%, while manufacturing recorded a modest 1.8% increase. In contrast, energy sector costs contracted by 12.8%, providing a critical deflationary buffer for domestic industry.
Intermediate goods excluding energy advanced by 4.4%, while non-durable consumer goods rose 1.2%, durable goods gained 0.8%, and capital goods edged up 0.4%. Broader energy-related activities and goods saw an overall contraction of 12.7%.
Consumer inflation and winter headwinds
The subdued producer index stands in sharp contrast to headline consumer inflation, which climbed 1.7% in September to push the annual rate to 8.6%. Consumer prices have already risen 6.6% year to date, with analysts projecting annual inflation to cross 9% before year-end.
Economic expert Veaceslav Ionita noted that the inflation path will largely depend on global commodity markets and potential domestic electricity tariff adjustments. “Households will face a more difficult winter than in recent years, but without an economic shock comparable to four years ago,” said Ionita, recalling the 30% inflation peak of 2022.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
RELATED COVERAGE
