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%).
A painting estimated at EUR 2 million that was stolen from an Oxford university art gallery roughly four years ago was recovered in Romania and returned to the UK judicial authorities last month, the Romanian Police announced. According to the BBC,...
Romania's national team will play in Group B at Debrecen in the 2024 European Women's Handball Championship alongside the teams from Montenegro, the Czech Republic, and Serbia, according to the draw held in Vienna. The Romanian team was part of the second pot and was the first drawn. Romania qualified undefeated for the final tournament, […]
Bucharest City Hall, through the General Directorate of Social Assistance of the City of Bucharest (DGASMB), and UNICEF Romania inaugurated on Thursday, April 18, a new integrated social services unit for vulnerable children in the capital city. The Respiro center for children with disabilities and their families, named The Magical Rainbow, will provide free services such as […]
Romania is inching closer to admission into the US Visa Waiver Program, a national strategic objective, according to the government. The country is increasingly close to meeting the technical criteria for joining. To be part of the program, countries need to have an applicant refusal rate below 3%. To reach this goal, the government says […]
Document 56, a Romanian short feature by Christopher Landry, will have its world premiere at The Beverly Hills Film Festival, where it has been chosen in the Official Selection. The event’s 24th edition is scheduled for May 1-5. Director Landry and composer Călin Țopa will be in attendance for the BHFF screening. The Romanian short […]
The Easter Fair in Bucharest might have been canceled, but the public can still visit two Palm Sunday fairs hosted by the museums dedicated to village culture, while many cities in the country host Easter fairs with ample programs. Palm Sunday Fair @ Dimitrie Gusti Village Museum in Bucharest April 26 – April 28 The […]
