Household Savings Rate Sentiment

In a notable shift in economic conditions, household incomes in 2025 experienced a robust increase of 13.6% compared to the previous year, reaching an average monthly income of 9,399 lei per household.

This rise in income comes as households grapple with rising costs, particularly in food products and non-alcoholic beverages, which remain their largest expense. Reflecting this trend, supermarket sales saw a 2.9% uptick in May, largely driven by strong demand for household goods, a response to food price increases that have been impacting consumer budgets. Despite the positive income growth, the sentiment surrounding the economic outlook remains cautious, as indicated by an adjusted sentiment score of 67 and an extreme fear coverage of 4, suggesting that while incomes are rising, broader economic concerns may be weighing on consumer confidence.

The recent sales data, alongside a three-month rate of change in retail sales at 0.0049, underscores the delicate balance between increasing purchasing power and the persistent inflationary pressures faced by households.