Winter holiday consumer spending drops this year in Romania

The average domestic budget allotted for the winter holidays in Romania will be of around RON 1,046 (the equivalent of some EUR 243), down from RON 1,52 in 2010 and RON 1,523 in 2009, according to Mednet Marketing Research Center. Around 64 percent of the respondents in the study said their budget this year is lower than in 2010.

Town dwellers intend to spend some RON 422 on food for this holiday season – around EUR 98-, down on RON 491 in 2010 and RON 556 in 2009. Non-food spending is up on previous years. Romanians in cities plan to spend RON 397 (around EUR 92), up on RON 302 in 2010 and RON 321 in 2009. Only 15 percent of those interviewed have put aside money for trips during this winter season, with an average budget of RON 1,332 (some EUR 309), similar to the budget in previous years. Going out or eating out is also part of the Christmas spending list in Romania and the budget for it is around RON 366 (some EUR 85), slightly up on RON 302 last year and RON 246 in 2009. Around 82 percent of respondents plan to give Christmas presents but intend to spend less on these than last year. The average budget for presents is of around RON 348 (some EUR 80), down from RON 413 last year and RON 526 in 2009. Corina Saceanu, corina@romania-insider.com (photo source: Photoxpress.com)