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. source: Institutul National de Statistica

Retail Sales in Romania decreased 6.50 percent in January of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Retail Sales YoY in Romania averaged 6.78 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 March of 2026.

Retail Sales in Romania decreased 6.50 percent in January of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Retail Sales YoY in Romania is expected to be -4.30 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
2026-02-05 07:00 AM
Retail Sales YoY
Dec -2.0% -3.9% -4.2%
2026-03-11 07:00 AM
Retail Sales YoY
Jan -6.5% -2.0% -4.8%
2026-04-08 06:00 AM
Retail Sales YoY
Feb 6.5% -4.5%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Consumer Confidence -31.50 -34.50 points Feb 2026
Consumer Credit 81118.54 81147.25 RON Million Jan 2026
Consumer Spending 196519.80 197326.40 RON Million Sep 2025
Gasoline Prices 1.82 1.81 USD/Liter Feb 2026
Retail Sales MoM -3.70 0.60 percent Jan 2026
Retail Sales YoY -6.50 -2.00 percent Jan 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
-6.50 -2.00 39.70 -19.60 2001 - 2026 percent Monthly
Constant Prices, SA, 2021

News Stream
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
Romania Retail Sales Fall for Fifth Month
Retail sales in Romania fell by 2% year-on-year in December 2025, easing from a downwardly revised 3.9% decline in the previous month. This marked the fifth consecutive month of contraction in retail activity, albeit at a softer pace, as sales growth slowed for food, beverages, and tobacco (-3% vs -4.9% in November) and non-food products (-2.3% vs -3.4%). At the same time, sales increased for automotive fuel in specialised stores (3.2% vs 2.3%). On a monthly basis, retail activity rose by 0.6% in December, following an upwardly revised 0.2% gain in the preceding period.
2026-02-05
Romania Retail Sales Continue to Fall
Retail sales in Romania decreased by 4% year-on-year in November 2025, following an upwardly revised 4.1% drop in October. Sales fell at a slower pace for food, beverages, and tobacco (-5.1% vs -6.8% in October) but declined more sharply for non-food products (-3.3% vs -2.4%). At the same time, sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores rose by 2.3%, slowing from a 3% growth in the prior month. On a monthly basis, retail sales edged up 0.1% in November, after an upwardly revised 1.2% fall in October.
2026-01-09