Retail sales in Romania fell by 4.7% year-on-year in May 2026, easing from a downwardly revised 6.2% drop in the previous month. This marked the tenth consecutive month of decline in retail activity albeit at a softer pace, driven largely by a smaller decrease in sales for automotive fuel in specialized stores (-2% vs -2.2%). Turnover also declined at a lesser extent for food, beverages, and tobacco (-4.3% vs -6.1% in April) and non-food products (-5.3% vs -7.6%). On a monthly basis, retail activity grew by 1.3% in May, rebounding from a downwardly revised 2.4% drop in the preceding period. source: Institutul National de Statistica

Retail Sales in Romania decreased 4.70 percent in May of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Retail Sales YoY in Romania averaged 6.63 percent from 2001 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 39.70 percent in April of 2021 and a record low of -19.60 percent in April of 2020. This page provides - Romania Retail Sales YoY - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Romania Retail Sales YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2026.

Retail Sales in Romania decreased 4.70 percent in May of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Retail Sales YoY in Romania is expected to be 0.80 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Romania Retail Sales YoY is projected to trend around 3.20 percent in 2027 and 3.60 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-06-04 06:00 AM
Retail Sales YoY
Apr -6.3% -3.8% -4.0%
2026-07-06 06:00 AM
Retail Sales YoY
May -4.7% -6.2% -4.8%
2026-08-06 06:00 AM
Retail Sales YoY
Jun -4.7% -1.2%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Consumer Confidence -34.60 -32.20 points Jun 2026
Consumer Credit 84946.00 83652.57 RON Million May 2026
Consumer Spending 192441.40 195888.90 RON Million Mar 2026
Gasoline Prices 1.94 1.99 USD/Liter Jun 2026
Retail Sales MoM 1.30 -2.40 percent May 2026
Retail Sales YoY -4.70 -6.20 percent May 2026


Romania Retail Sales YoY
In Romania, the year-over-year change in Retail sales compares the aggregated sales of retail goods and services during a certain month to the same month a year ago.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-4.70 -6.20 39.70 -19.60 2001 - 2026 percent Monthly
Constant Prices, SA, 2021

News Stream
Romania Retail Sales Fall at Softer Pace
Retail sales in Romania fell by 4.7% year-on-year in May 2026, easing from a downwardly revised 6.2% drop in the previous month. This marked the tenth consecutive month of decline in retail activity albeit at a softer pace, driven largely by a smaller decrease in sales for automotive fuel in specialized stores (-2% vs -2.2%). Turnover also declined at a lesser extent for food, beverages, and tobacco (-4.3% vs -6.1% in April) and non-food products (-5.3% vs -7.6%). On a monthly basis, retail activity grew by 1.3% in May, rebounding from a downwardly revised 2.4% drop in the preceding period.
2026-07-06
Romania Retail Sales Fall Most Since 2020
Retail sales in Romania fell by 6.3% year-on-year in April 2026, following a 3.8% drop in the previous month, marking the ninth consecutive month of contraction and the steepest decline since April 2020. Turnover from food, beverages, and tobacco continued to deteriorate, declining 6.6% after a 3.5% fall in March, while automotive fuel purchases in specialised stores slipped 2.1%, reversing from a 2.8% increase. Additionally, sales of non-food products remained weak, falling 7.9% for a second straight month. On a monthly basis, retail activity declined 2.6% in April, reversing a 2.0% increase in the preceding period.
2026-06-04
Romania Retail Sales Fall at a Slower Pace
Retail sales in Romania fell 3.2% year-on-year in March 2026, easing from a downwardly revised 5.9% decline in the previous month, marking the eighth consecutive month of contraction. Sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores returned to growth (4.1% vs -3.7% in February). At the same time, the decline in non-food products softened (-7.4% vs -9.4%). In contrast, sales of food, beverages, and tobacco fell further (-3.0% vs -1.1%). On a monthly basis, retail activity jumped 2.6% in March, following an upwardly revised 0.5% increase in the preceding period.
2026-05-07