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 a downwardly revised 0.5% increase in the preceding period. source: Institutul National de Statistica

Retail Sales in Romania decreased 3.20 percent in March of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Retail Sales YoY in Romania averaged 6.71 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 May of 2026.

Retail Sales in Romania decreased 3.20 percent in March of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Retail Sales YoY in Romania is expected to be -1.20 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
2026-04-08 06:00 AM
Retail Sales YoY
Feb -6.2% -6.5% -4.5%
2026-05-07 06:00 AM
Retail Sales YoY
Mar -3.2% -5.9% -4.3%
2026-06-04 06:00 AM
Retail Sales YoY
Apr -3.2%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Consumer Confidence -35.10 -32.20 points Apr 2026
Consumer Credit 82921.65 81475.22 RON Million Mar 2026
Consumer Spending 197012.00 198257.60 RON Million Dec 2025
Gasoline Prices 1.98 1.95 USD/Liter Apr 2026
Retail Sales MoM 2.60 0.50 percent Mar 2026
Retail Sales YoY -3.20 -5.90 percent Mar 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
-3.20 -5.90 39.70 -19.60 2001 - 2026 percent Monthly
Constant Prices, SA, 2021

News Stream
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
Romania Retail Sales Extend Decline
Retail sales in Romania declined by 6.2% year-on-year in February 2026, following a downwardly revised 6.0% drop in the previous month. This marked the seventh consecutive month of contraction and the steepest decline since April 2020. Sales growth for food, beverages, and tobacco slowed sharply (-0.8% vs 3.0%), while the contraction deepened for non-food products (-9.4% vs -7.9%). Meanwhile, sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores remained in decline, though at a slightly softer pace (-4.3% vs -4.8%). On a monthly basis, retail activity edged down 0.2% in February, easing from a 3.7% drop in the previous period.
2026-04-08
Romania Retail Sales Lowest Since 2020
Retail sales in Romania fell by 6.5% year-on-year in January 2026, deepening from a 2% decline in the previous month, marking the sixth consecutive month of contraction and the lowest reading since April 2020. Sales of food, beverages, and tobacco fell at the same pace of 3%, matching the rate recorded in the previous month, while declines deepened for non-food products (-7.9% vs -2.3%). At the same time, sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores reversed to a decline (-4.8% vs 3.2%). On a monthly basis, retail activity fell 3.7% in January, reversing from a 0.6% growth in the preceding period.
2026-03-11