Romanian leu hits new low as euro climbs to record 5.2788 lei

On Wednesday, the National Bank of Romania published a reference price of 5.2788 lei per euro, marking the highest level ever recorded for the currency pair. This figure exceeds the earlier record by 0.0100 lei and follows a series of incremental rises in the preceding weeks, with rates climbing from 5.2636 to 5.2649 lei. The euro also crossed the 5.28-lei mark in the interbank market prior to the BNR's announcement.

Simultaneously, the leu depreciated against major currencies, with the dollar reaching 4.6265 lei, the Swiss franc 5.6205 lei, and the pound 6.1442 lei. The depreciation occurs amid prolonged political tensions, a slowing economy, and persistent inflation, while rating agencies are slated to review Romania's sovereign rating soon. The weaker leu could raise costs for imported goods and euro-denominated loans, though its impact on overall inflation will depend on multiple factors.