Romanians spent approximately €40 billion in large retail chains last year, marking a 7.1% increase compared to 2023, according to research by Cushman & Wakefield Echinox. The result, while a slowdown from the 11.1% increase in 2023, still outpaced inflation.
The study analyzed the financial results of 123 retailers across 13 diverse segments.
Major food stores continue to dominate spending, accounting for €24 billion, or 60.3% of the total. However, this segment saw a more modest 5.2% increase in sales, falling below the 2024 annual inflation rate of 5.6%. DIY stores followed with €4.3 billion (10.9%), then Electro IT with €3.6 billion (9.1%), and Fashion at €2.5 billion (6.2%). Entertainment, included for the first time, recorded the lowest spending.
Vlad Săftoiu, Head of Research at Cushman & Wakefield Echinox, said: “While spending on food and on daily living remains high, a higher overall growth rate has been recorded by non-food products. This is a positive signal for the retail market, especially as most non-food segments from our study reported double-digit growth, indicating strong potential for operators looking to expand in Romania.”
The robust turnover increases are attributed to both retail expansions and organic growth, driven by a surge in physical store sales and a significant online presence among most operators.
Developers have actively supported this expansion, delivering approximately 340,000 sqm of new retail spaces between 2024 and H1 2025, both in new schemes or extensions/upgrades of existing projects.
