Oana Tilica

Average download and upload speeds in Romania via landline internet connections increased by 18pct in 2017 compared with the previous year, according to statistics released on Tuesday by the National Authority for Communications Administration and Regulation (ANCOM) based on tests conducted on Netograf.ro - the ANCOM application for testing Internet service quality.

Romania's FOB/CIF trade balance deficit increased in the first four months of the year to 3.727 billion euros, up 379.3 million euros over the similar period of 2017.

Romania has met four out of the five requirements for the Visa Waiver Program, which cannot be negotiated as the Congress has authority on this law, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest Abigail Rupp told a conference on Wednesday.

The number of commercial companies and authorized individuals in insolvency increased by 17.38pct in the first four months of the year, compared to the same period of 2017, to 2,965, according to the data posted on the website of the National Office of Trade Registry (ONRC).

For the Russian tourist market we have to propose that the vacation in Romania be an experience, taking into account that Bulgaria has a higher promotion advantage, President of the Federation of Romania's Tourism Promotion Associations (FAPT) Corina Martin stated.

Monthly inflation in Romania advanced to 5.2 percent in March 2018, from 5 percent the month before, on a 7.2-percent increase in prices for non-food goods, a 4-percent increase in food prices and a 2.83-percent increase in services fees.

A higher annual inflation rate was recorded in June 2013, when consumer prices rose by 5.37 percent.

The representatives of trade union organisations have agreed to backtrack on the general strike, scheduled for 11 May, 2018, following an agreement concluded with the gov't, a SANITAS press release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday informs.

Romania's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March 2018 was 4.5 percent, slightly down 0.1 percentage points from the previous month (4.6 percent), according to data released on Wednesday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

The National Institute of Statistics (INS) has assured that "it has not been subjected to any interference or pressure of any kind on from any national authority," arguing that a government decision approved on Thursday under which the institute "is organised and operates as a specialist body of the central public administration under the authority of the government and the co-ordination of the

Romania's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimated for 2017 amounted to 858332.8 million lei current prices, up in real terms by 6.9 percent as against 2016.