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%).
Romania's gross domestic product (GDP) remained largely unchanged in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous quarter, according to flash estimates published on May 15 by the National Institute of Statistics (INS). The economy recorded a growth of 0.2% in gross series and 0.5% in seasonally adjusted series compared to the same quarter of […]
Iulius Mall Suceava has officially inaugurated its EUR 40 million expansion that transformed it into “the largest retail and entertainment hub in northern Romania,” according to the official announcement. Developed by IULIUS and Atterbury Europe, the project adds 16,500 sqm of new retail space, bringing the mall's total area to 60,000 sqm. The expansion introduces […]
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced the launch of the second edition of its Star Venture program in Romania this week, following a first edition in 2022. The program provides high-potential startups with business expertise and access to finance. After the round of applications, 10 promising startups were shortlisted to showcase their […]
Non-profit BookLand started building last year a pre-university, dual-system campus in the village of Vultureşti, in southern Romania’s Argeş county. The campus will train pupils in various specializations, allowing them to work in industries ranging from hotels & restaurants to retail and food. More on how the project got off the ground and what it […]
Armenian Street Pop-Up: All That Jazz, an event focusing on the city’s Armenian neighborhood, community and living heritage, takes place on the weekend of May 24 – May 25. The first edition, meant as an overture to the Armenian Street Festival, brings to the fore the cultural heritage of the Armenian community in Romania and […]
One year after its launch, Attractive Romania/România Atractivă - part of Romania's first national program dedicated to cultural tourism - announced major milestones, including more than 280,000 active users and over 60,000 downloads of its mobile app. The platform has become the second most popular Romanian tourism app, after Munții Noștri. Initiated by the Ministry […]
