Retail trade in Romania surged 12.1% in June annually, according to data released by the European Statistical Office (Eurostat). The figure makes Romania among EU countries with the highest increase in retail trade. Among member states for which data are available, the highest annual increases in total retail trade were registered in Bulgaria (+22.7%), Lithuania (+15.3%), Slovenia (+12.8%), Estonia (12.2%) and Romania (12.1%).
Retail sales in the 19 countries sharing the euro rose were 5.0% higher in June than a year earlier while in the EU they increased by 5.3%.
In eurozone in June 2021, compared with June 2020, the volume of retail trade increased by 11.9% for automotive fuels, by 6.5% for non-food products and by 1.4% for food, drinks and tobacco. In the EU, the volume of retail trade increased by 11.5% for automotive fuels, by 7.1% for non-food products and by 1.7% for food, drinks and tobacco.
On a monthly basis, retail sales rose by 1.5% in the eurozone and by 1.2% the EU, compared with May 2021, when the retail trade volume increased by 4.1% in the eurozone and by 4.2% in the EU.
In the eurozone in June 2021, compared with May 2021, the volume of retail trade increased by 3.8% for automotive fuels and by 3.4% for non-food products, while it decreased by 1.5% for food, drinks and tobacco. In the EU the volume of retail trade increased by 3.6% for automotive fuels and by 2.6% for non-food products, while it decreased by 1.1% for food, drinks and tobacco.
Among Member States for which data are available, the highest monthly increases in total retail trade were registered in Ireland (+9.4%), Germany and Latvia (both +4.2%) and Lithuania (+2.0). The largest decreases were observed in Malta (-3.0%), Austria (-2.7%) and Croatia (-2.6%).
According to Romania’s National Institute of Statistics (INS), retail sales in the country increased 13.6% in June of 2021 over the same month in the previous year, following a downwardly revised 20.7% jump in the previous month. On a monthly basis, retail sales ticked down 0.1 percent in June, reversing from a downwardly revised 1.3% rise in May. Of note, retail sales had the most significant contribution to Romania’s GDP increase in recent years.
In a separate release, the INS said that the annual inflation rate rose to 5 % last month from 3.9% in June. Non-food products prices were higher by 7.64%, services by 2.74% and foodstuffs by 2.33%.
Meanwhile, the average net salary went up in Romania by 49 lei (EUR 10 Euro), in June month-over-month. The average gross nominal earnings were 5779 lei, up 1.5% compared to May 2021 while the average net nominal earnings were 3541 lei, up 1.4%.
The highest values of the average net nominal earnings were recorded in computer programming, consultancy and related activities (including information service activities) (8439 lei), while the lowest in accommodation and food service activities (1926 lei), the institute said.