As of April 2026, the intensifying conflict in the Middle East has triggered the most significant energy market shock in history, with the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupting nearly 20% of global oil consumption and surging fuel prices across the globe.
This geopolitical crisis is immediately impacting household budgets, driving up transportation costs and creating a domino effect on food prices due to production and logistics costs. For consumers already navigating a delicate post-pandemic economic landscape, this renewed inflationary pressure presents a severe threat to purchasing power, particularly regarding food, fuel and related goods and services.
In this article we will address measures being prepared in Romania to mitigate potential inflation hikes and their impact on consumers. We will also make some considerations regarding the way in which consumers can protect themselves from the negative effects of this period full of volatility and unpredictability. Objectively, we decided that this article should be limited to consumer goods (food, fuel) and not refer to financial services. We will address this sector in a separate article.
In Romania, unfortunately, the reaction of the governments was particularly slow to the fuel crisis generated by the conflict in the Middle East, and as far as the objectives are concerned, the attitude is quite evasive regarding concrete protective measures to help the population. In addition, there is practically no national strategy in this regard.
A month has passed since the outbreak of the conflict in Iran and only a few minimalist measures have been taken, on the fuel market only, and these are assessed by experts as having a limited and minor impact on mitigating inflation. It should also be mentioned that Romania, in any case, recorded the highest inflation in the European Union last year, of almost 10%, and the population as a whole - and vulnerable groups in particular - are feeling this new crisis even more. In Romania, due to persistent inflation, a cap on the commercial mark-up on basic foodstuffs has been in force since August 1, 2023. The measure has been extended several times by the Government, remaining in force in the following years. Therefore, on March 31, 2026, the Government proposed to extend the capping of the commercial margin on basic foods by another 3 months, until June 30, 2026. The decision will be taken by emergency ordinance, but is not yet in force, being in public consultation. The measure, which targets 17 product categories, was extended to protect the population from price increases, in the context of rising fuel prices. The maximum permitted commercial margin remains 20% in stores.
The list includes basic foods such as bread, milk, cheese, eggs, meat, vegetables and fruits, according to regulations. Products with limited commercial margin are indicated as such on the shelf.
However, not all food products of the same type have a capped commercial margin. The capping applies only to a specific list of basic foods (the one established by GEO 67/2023 and successively extended until June 30, 2026), while the prices for other products, including premium brands or special assortments in the same category, are free. That is why there are stores where, in fact, these products with limited commercial value are not found, which raises the issue of accessibility for many consumers, especially those in isolated areas, who do not have even a small number of stores at hand.
In concrete terms, the only measure in force was taken after the Romanian Government declared a crisis situation on the fuel market, which allows specific interventions until June 30, 2026.
An Emergency Ordinance (GEO) was adopted just last week, through which the excise duty on standard diesel fuel decreases by 0.3 lei/ liter (0.059 EUR), starting with April 7, 2026, in response to excessive price increases. Also in the fuel sector, the Government decided to cap the commercial margin, in order to avoid speculative price increases, establishing that the level should not exceed the 2025 average.
Ultimately, navigating high inflation requires a proactive, two-pronged approach: strengthening personal financial resilience while leveraging consumer protection mechanisms to ensure fair treatment in the marketplace. While inflationary pressures erode purchasing power, consumers can mitigate these effects by meticulously auditing household budgets, prioritizing essential spending, and switching to generic or store-brand alternatives.
However, individual action alone is not enough. It is crucial to stay informed about consumer rights, particularly regarding unfair pricing practices, contract terms that permit unfair price adjustments, and the redress options for consumers. By staying vigilant, demanding transparency from traders and retailers, and shifting consumption habits toward value-driven choices, consumers can protect their financial well-being during economic volatility. The ability to endure inflationary periods depends on both adapting shopping habits and utilizing the regulatory protections designed to prevent consumer detriment or simply to protect consumers towards effects of the conflict in the Middle East.
