FX.co ★ Romania Retail Sales at Lowest Since 2020

Retail sales in Romania declined by 6.5% year-on-year in January 2026, following a 2% drop in December, marking the sixth consecutive monthly contraction and the sharpest decrease since April 2020. Sales of food, beverages, and tobacco fell by 3%, unchanged from the previous month, while the downturn in non-food products intensified (-7.9% vs. -2.3%). Meanwhile, sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores swung back into negative territory, dropping by 4.8% after a 3.2% increase in the prior month. On a monthly basis, retail activity shrank by 3.7% in January, reversing a 0.6% gain recorded in December.