IMM (SME) Romania warns that the entrepreneurial environment is increasingly feeling the effects of economic uncertainty, high costs and declining demand, stressing the need for economic policies that support companies, stimulate investment and ensure predictability for the business environment.In a press release, IMM Romania notes that data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) on the evolution of wholesale trade and market services mainly provided to enterprises indicate a mixed trend, but with increasingly clear signs of a slowdown in economic activity at the beginning of 2026.'These developments point to a slowdown in the economy originating in the business sector, not just in consumption. When services for companies decline, we are already seeing a deep reduction in economic activity, with an impact on investment, productivity and, ultimately, the labour market,' said the president of IMM Romania, Florin Jianu.According to official data, in February 2026, turnover in wholesale trade increased by 12.6% compared with January (gross series), but remained at the same level as in February 2025, indicating stagnation in this sector, which is essential for distribution chains. At the same time, in the first two months of the year, wholesale trade recorded a decline of 1.6%, signalling a cooling of economic activity.Meanwhile, the sector of market services mainly provided to enterprises recorded a decrease of 5.0% in February 2026 compared with the same month of the previous year (gross series) and 5.5% in seasonally adjusted terms, confirming a significant reduction in support activities for the business environment. Over the January-February 2026 period, the decline stands at 4.7%, further highlighting the contraction trend, IMM Romania emphasises in the release.In this context, IMM Romania warns that these developments represent an important signal for the real economy, given that services for enterprises and wholesale trade are directly correlated with the level of economic activity and the dynamics of investment.The data show that the declines in the services sector are mainly driven by transport (-7.1%), IT services (-6.9%) and other services for enterprises (-4.8%), while in wholesale trade decreases are notable in segments such as food products, IT equipment and non-specialised trade.
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