Consumption up by 6.5 pct in H1 in Romania; signs of a slowdown seen in June

In June 2018, Romania recorded the first decrease in consumption after the volume of turnover in retail trade, going down as compared to May, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

The drop as gross series was 1 percent and was due to a 3.5 percent reduction in the retail trade of automotive fuel in specialized stores as well as a 0.6 percent drop in sales of food, beverages and tobacco. The decrease as series adjusted by number of working days and seasonality was 0.1 percent, being generated by a 2.3 percent reduction in the retail trade of automotive fuel in specialized stores. Simultaneously, sales of non-food products increased by 1.2 percent, and food, beverages and tobacco increased by 1 percent.

Compared to June 2017, however, the turnover volume of retail trade increased by 7 percent as gross series and by 7.9 percent as series adjusted by number of working days and seasonality. In the case of the gross series, developments were due to a 8.2 percent increase in non-food sales, a 7.4 percent increase in sales of food, beverages and tobacco, and a 4.8 percent increase in trade in non-food products. For the adjusted series, developments were due to a 9.1 percent increase in non-food sales, a 7.1 percent increase in sales of food, beverages and tobacco, and a 6.1 percent increase retail of automotive fuel in specialized stores.

The growth continued for the first half of the year

Between January 1 and June 30 2018, the turnover of retail trade increased by 6.5 percent in gross series and by 7.5 percent as series adjusted by number of working days and seasonality. The evolution of the gross series was generated by a 7.4 percent increase in non-food sales, a 7 percent increase in sales of food, beverages and tobacco, and a 4.4 percent increase in retail fuel prices for motor vehicles in specialized stores.

Additionally, the adjusted series was driven by a 8.9 percent increase in non-food sales, a 7.4 percent increase in sales of food, beverages and tobacco, and a 5.3 percent increase in retail trade of motor fuels in specialized stores.