The volume of retail trade turnover (except for the trade of motor vehicles and motorcycles) fell by 5.8%, as an unadjusted series, in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2025, according to data published on Thursday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
According to the same source, between January 1 and March 31, 2026, the negative result was driven by declines in sales of non-food products (-9.3%), sales of food products, beverages and tobacco (-2.7%), and the retail sale of automotive fuels in specialised shops (-2.5%), agerpres reports.
As an adjusted series, depending on the number of business days and seasonality, retail trade turnover also decreased by 5%, following declines recorded in sales of non-food products (-8.3%), sales of food products, beverages and tobacco (-2.3%), and the retail sale of automotive fuels in specialised shops (-1%).
INS data also show that, in March 2026 compared with March 2025, the volume of retail trade turnover (except for the trade of motor vehicles and motorcycles) decreased by 2.3%, as an unadjusted series, due to weaker results in sales of non-food products (-6.3%) and sales of food products, beverages and tobacco (-3.4%). On the other hand, the retail sale of automotive fuels in specialised shops increased by 11.2% during the analysed period.
During the same reference period, the volume of retail trade turnover, as an adjusted series, declined by 3.2%, because of lower sales of non-food products (-7.4%) and sales of food products, beverages and tobacco (-3%). By contrast, the retail sale of automotive fuels in specialised shops recorded an increase of 4.1%.
According to the official statistics, month on month (March compared with February 2026), retail trade turnover increased both as an unadjusted series (+18.6%) and as an adjusted series (+2.6%).
