Romania’s Retail Sector Shows Resilience with June Growth.
Retail sales in the country saw a 2.5% year-on-year increase in June 2025, with a notable monthly uptick, signaling sustained consumer activity despite broader economic headwinds.
Romania’s retail sales continued on an upward trajectory in June, posting a 2.5% year-on-year increase, according to the latest data. While this represents a slight slowdown from the revised 2.8% growth seen in May, the sector demonstrated resilience with a 1.1% rise on a monthly basis, marking the strongest performance since September 2024. For the first half of 2025, retail sales climbed by an adjusted 3.4% compared to the same period in the previous year.
The monthly increase reversed a 0.3% decline in the preceding period, indicating a potential strengthening of consumer spending. A closer look at the figures reveals a mixed but encouraging picture across different segments of the retail market.
Sales of non-food products, a key indicator of consumer confidence, saw a significant rise of 5.8%, although this was a moderation from the 7.7% growth in May. The automotive fuels sector also experienced a slowdown, with sales increasing by a modest 0.2% compared to 1.6% in the previous month.
In a positive turn, the contraction in sales of food, beverages, and tobacco eased, with a decline of 0.7% in June, an improvement from the 1.1% drop recorded in May.
This steady performance in the retail sector comes against a backdrop of a complex economic environment. Various institutions have revised their economic growth forecasts for Romania in 2025, citing fiscal imbalances, sluggish investment, and political uncertainty. The European Commission, for instance, projects a modest GDP growth of 1.4% for the year.
Despite these challenges and concerns about inflation and energy prices, which remain top worries for Romanian consumers, household consumption is expected to be a key driver of economic growth. Analysts note that while spending growth may be slower, the overall outlook for Romanian consumers remains positive. Recent surveys indicate that while consumers are recalibrating their budgets and focusing on value, they are not retreating from spending. This is supported by data showing that Romanians allocate the highest percentage of their household budgets to food and non-alcoholic beverages in the European Union.
The 1.1% month-on-month growth in the retail trade volume in June, as reported by the national statistical office, further underscores the current resilience of the Romanian consumer. This suggests that despite broader economic pressures, consumer activity continues to be a vital component of the nation’s economy.
