Vânzările din comerț cresc timid, susținute de produsele nealimentare

Retail sales in Romania saw a modest increase of 2.3% in August, driven mainly by non-food products, marking the first annual growth since August 2025. Despite this positive trend, real wages continue to lag behind inflation, affecting consumer purchasing power. Economists predict that retail sales may decline in 2026, even with better performance expected in the latter half of the year. Consumer confidence has slightly improved, but managers in commerce express concerns about future sales. The unemployment rate remained stable at 6.4%, while expectations for job creation have weakened, particularly in manufacturing and services.