Romania’s retail sales contract by 5.4% y/y in Q2

07 August 2026 The retail sales volume index contracted by 5.4% y/y in Romania in the second quarter (Q2) of 2026, despite a certain improvement in the non-retail segment offset by further deterioration in the food segment, which indicates a tougher impact of budgetary measures on low-income households. While annual growth figures will improve in H2 on base effects, the fundamentals for gradual recovery in private consumption after the correction generated by the budgetary measures enforced during 2025 remain fragile. The lower wages, some 6.6% down y/y in Q2 (June readings not released yet), contributed significantly to the weaker sales performance. Relative improvement is expected in H2 in this regard, but only in annual terms, while genuine improvement reflected by quarterly growth in i