observatornews.ro/economic/amanetul-solutia-romani

In Romania, the number of pawn shops has increased by 30% over the past decade, reaching nearly 4,000. Many people are turning to pawn shops to cope with rising living costs, pawning items like expensive bags and musical instruments. The highest concentration of pawn shops is in Oltenia, particularly in Vâlcea County, which has a record 54 shops. Legal experts advise customers to carefully read contracts, as failing to repay loans can result in losing their pledged items. Gold remains the most pawned item, followed by electronics.