Romanian consumer prices grew at an average pace of 6.1 per cent over 2010, faster than the 5.6 per cent rise in 2009, official data showed yesterday.

Rising cost of food drove prices up 0.53 per cent in December, the Romanian Statistical Office said.

Inflation accelerated in December to 7.96 per cent from 7.73 per cent, the office said.

Analysts expected inflation to increase in 2010 after the government in July increased sales tax to 24 per cent from 19 per cent as part of austerity measures to secure further disbursements of a €20 billion lifeline from the International Monetary Fund, the European Union and the World Bank.