In 2020, household consumption expenditure in the EU decreased by an unprecedented 8% compared with 2019, the largest annual reduction recorded since the time series started and it is due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Commission Statistics Office (Eurostat) reported on Monday.Social distancing measures, government restrictions imposed on the movement of people and non-essential economic activities severely affected household consumption expenditure.All the EU Member States recorded a decrease in household consumption expenditure. Data for Romania, Greece, Germany, Belgium, France, Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, the Netherlands and Portugal are provisional, Eurostat said.When comparing 2019 with 2020, the largest decrease was recorded in Malta (around -22%), followed by Croatia, Spain and Greece (all around -16%). On the other hand, the smallest decreases were recorded in Slovakia and Denmark (both around -2%), followed by Lithuania and Poland (both around -3%), Sweden (minus 3.8%), and Romania (minus 4.3%).According to Eurostat, the largest decreases in household consumption expenditure were observed for 'Restaurants and hotels' (-38% compared with 2019), 'Clothing and footwear,' 'Transport' and 'Recreation and culture' (all -17%). On the other hand, the largest increases were recorded for 'Food and non-alcoholic beverages' (+3%) and 'Communications' (+2%).In 2020, over a quarter (26%) of household consumption expenditure was devoted to 'Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels,' making it the EU's largest household expenditure item, ahead of 'Food and non-alcoholic beverages' (15%) and 'Transport' (12%).
JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel marks a milestone that goes far beyond an anniversary this year. It celebrates 25 years of stories — of people, vision, and the unwavering belief that hospitality has the power to shape a city’s spirit. “Marking 25 years is, first and foremost, a statement of trust. Guests have chosen JW […]
Three-quarters of Romanian citizens believe that the national healthcare system offers poor services, and 70% think that it is overstretched, according to the seventh edition of the Ipsos global report on health services, carried out in 30 countries, including Romania. The study analyzes the population’s perceptions of healthcare systems, major issues in the field, and […]
An 11-story building is currently being built next to the graves in Bucharest’s famous Bellu Cemetery, and the project, authorized by the District 4 City Hall in 2023, has sparked controversy in the context of local elections for general mayor. District 4 City Hall, led by Daniel Băluță, currently a candidate for the position of general […]
Romania is preparing to select its first-ever national team for the Bocuse d’Or, marking the country’s official debut in the prestigious culinary competition. The Bocuse d’Or Romania National Selection will take place on November 27 in Brașov, where five teams will compete over six hours for a single place in the 2026 Bocuse d’Or Europe […]
Prosecutors and police in Romania conducted 17 searches on Tuesday, November 25, in a case concerning falsified documents for persons from Russia, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, and other states of the former USSR. The searches mainly took place in Suceava county, on the border with Ukraine, but also in Bucharest. Some of the targeted individuals […]
HILS Development has announced a EUR 200 million investment in a new large-scale mixed-use residential project in northern Bucharest, marking the company’s expansion into one of the capital’s most dynamic growth areas. The development, called HILS Nord, will span 10 hectares near Lake Șaulei and feature 2,705 apartments alongside green spaces, retail areas, and other […]
