A delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Jan Kees Martijn, will visit Bucharest between November 5-8 to analyze recent economic and financial developments and to review macroeconomic forecasts."An IMF mission, led by Jan Kees Martijn, will visit Bucharest between November 5 and 8, for a regular visit. The Fund's team will analyze recent economic and financial developments and update the macroeconomic outlook," reads the IMF announcement signed by Geoff Gottlieb, IMF regional representative for Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.In the latest "World Economic Outlook" report, recently published, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised downwards to 1.9% the estimates regarding the advance of the Romanian economy this year, from 2.8% as forecast in April.According to the new figures published by the IMF, after an increase of 2.1% last year, the advance of the Romanian economy will slow down to 1.9% this year, and will accelerate to 3.3% in 2025. In the spring, the IMF estimated an advance of 2.8% of Romania's GDP in 2024, compared to a 3.8% advance forecast last fall.Also, the international financial institution expects a further worsening of Romania's current account deficit, up to 7.5% of GDP in 2024, from a level of 7.1% of GDP, forecast in April. The IMF predicts a slight reduction in the current account deficit, up to 7% of GDP in 2025, compared to a decrease up to 6.8% as it was estimated in the spring. According to IMF forecasts, Romania's current account deficit will remain at a high level even in 2029, when it will stand at 5.9% of GDP.Currently, Romania does not have a financing agreement with the International Monetary Fund, but the financial institution annually evaluates the development of the Romanian economy, based on consultations under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement.The consultations are an oversight exercise that is mandatory for all member states. The purpose of the consultations based on Article IV is to examine the financial and economic situation at the national level and formulate some general recommendations regarding monetary policies, financial and economic policies to be followed to ensure stability and a positive development at the level of the economy.
Romanian retail chain La Cocoş recorded a turnover of RON 1.18 billion (EUR 237 million) in 2024, marking a 20.7% y/y increase and becoming the first domestically owned retailer to exceed the RON 1 billion benchmark, according to Ziarul Financiar. Founded in 2014 by entrepreneur Iulian Nica, La Cocoş...
Even though Romania's currency, RON (leu), has depreciated relatively steeply in the past weeks, compared to historic low volatility, ING Romania maintains its exchange rate forecast for this year and argues that the national currency could recover from recent losses. "However, it is important to look at the bigger picture: financial markets can often have […]
Romania's industrial production index contracted by 4.2% y/y in Q1 and neared the lowest level in the past three years, according to the statistics office INS. The seasonal and workday-adjusted index (-0.4% q/q) has followed a visible downward trend after the post-Covid recovery in 2021 and 2022. The seasonal and workday-adjusted index in Q1 was […]
The net foreign direct investments to Romania contracted by 29% y/y to EUR 4.87 billion in 12 months to March 2025, after a 33% y/y contraction (to EUR 1.67 billion) in Q1, according to data published by the National Bank of Romania (BNR). The net foreign direct investments accounted for only 1.4% of the GDP […]
Romania’s current account (CA) deficit rose by 50% to EUR 33.0 billion in 12 months to March 2025, after a sharp 82% y/y surge (to EUR 7.7 billion) in Q1, according to data published by the National Bank of Romania (BNR). The CA gap reached 9.3% of GDP (based on the latest available 4-quarter GDP […]
Romania's general government budget deficit hit 2.94% of GDP in January-April (RON 56.2 billion, or EUR 11 billion), up from 2.3% of GDP in Q1, according to Ziarul Financiar and
