The real average prices for cars, counting inflation, dropped in 24 of the 27 EU member states in 2009, with a 10.1% fall in Romania during last year, according to an European Commission report. Prices dropped most in Slovenia (about 13%), but grew in countries such as Britain or Sweden.

While car prices at EU level remained law last year, post-sale services got more expensive during the year.

Besides Slovenia, prices dropped most in Lituania (-11.1%), Slovakia (-11%), Romania (-10.1%) the Zech Republic (-9.4%), Malta (-9.2%) and Bulgaria (-9.1%).