Romania’s retail sales edge up 0.4% y/y in April, extending months-long stagnation

Romania’s retail sales volume index increased by 0.4% y/y in April 2025, after the annual growth rate had decelerated to +3.5% y/y in Q1 from an average of +8.6% y/y in 2024, according to data published by the statistics office INS. Sales readings will likely remain weak in May, reflecting households’ concerns ahead of the presidential elections, which may have laid the groundwork for an economic crisis (one that the authorities have yet to avoid).

In seasonally and workday-adjusted terms, the retail sales remained within a narrow band for the seventh consecutive month.