Inflation caused a crucial change in Romanian purchasing behaviour. The latest data collected in the 3rd 4th of 2025 indicate expanding consumer caution and signal a clear economical downturn.
In the face of crucial increases in prices – food has increased by almost 9%, non-food products by more than 10%, and services by almost 10% compared to the erstwhile year – the main reason is the increase in VAT, Romania adjusts its expenditure.
More than half of the respondents to the survey conducted by the global marketplace investigator iSense claim to have reduced the budget allocated to the essential purchases. Consumers proceed to exercise caution: they avoid impulsive purchases and carefully analyse the price-benefit ratio of the product.
The trend towards stockpiling is growing: 55% of the iSense survey respondents claim to have bought stocks of products subject to promotion or discount, which is the highest percent in the last 3 years.There is simply a increasing pessimism among the population about the anticipation of savings. As of August 2025:44% of respondents anticipate individual savings to fall.
Romania's economy stagnated in the first half of 2025, with real GDP growth of only 0.3%.Purchasing power is decreasing as wages are rising very small or even decreasing, while prices and interest rates on loans are eroding income, as reported by the BRD survey published on Friday.
Unemployment increased to almost 6%, employment remained unchanged and real wages fell.
Retail has seen 2 months of decline in a row, and expectations in manufacture and services are historically low.
Source: Hotnews.ro
BIS improvement — survey Bulletin
