Compared with the previous year, consumer prices advanced by 0.4% in September. Compared with September 2007, the food
products prices cost went up with 7.08%, service fees advanced by 7.75%, and non – food products were by 6.6% more expensive. Compared to August 2008, in September 2008, the prices of food products advanced by 0.33%, those of non –
food, by 0.19%, whereas the service fees advanced by 1.05%. According to analysts, the advance of consumer prices in September, which exceeds the expectations, was entailed by the depreciation of the national currency. “There is a strong growth in case of services because of the exchange rate depreciation. We need to maintain the exchange rate below RON 4/ EUR. Based on the data 

In this issue (continued): 
- Moody’s sees no reasons for imminent rating action 
- Romania’s economic growth projected at 9.1% 
- Romania’s August net salary down 2.4% 
- Workforce shortage will offset layoffs from other sectors 
- MEF published the amended draft of the Fiscal Code 
- FDI up to 60% to EUR 6.5 in the first 8 months 
- Bucharest, Europe’s third choice for business expansion
-713 applications for European ROP funds 

This newsletter covers information available as at 31 October 2008 3 published on Friday by INS, the trade deficit has advanced in the first 8 months of the year, compared to the corresponding amount of time in 2007, by 9.35%, and it amounted to EUR 14.58 bn. During this time, imports continued to outperform exports. Thus, exports advanced, over January–August, by 18.3%, to EUR 22.63 bn, and imports advanced by 14.6%, to EUR 37.2 bn. FOB exports, made during the first 8 months of 2008, amounted to RON 82.447 bn (EUR 22.636 bn) and CIF imports amounted to RON 135.570 bn (EUR 37.215 bn).