Retail turnover volume in Romania rose by 8.1% in August 2024, compared to the same month the previous year, and by 2.1% on the previous month.
The data, which does not include the trade of motor vehicles and motorcycles, showed that the annual increase was largely driven by increased sales of non-food products (+16.9%) and by the sale of food, beverages and tobacco (+4.4%).
Sales of automotive fuel, however, were down 2.5%, year-on-year.
On a month on month basis, meanwhile, the increase was driven by improved sales of food, beverages and tobacco (+4.7%), while sales of automotive fuel (+0.8%) and non-food products (+0.7%) were also up.
Taking the period from January to August 2024, retail turnover volume (excluding motor and motorcycle trade was up 8.1%.
Tourism numbers increase
Elsewhere, separate data indicated that the number of tourists arriving in the country in August 2024 was 8.6% higher than the same month the previous year, with foreign tourist numbers up 13.4%.
Of these, European tourist numbers were up 18.2%, tourists from North America were up 6.7%, tourists from South America were up 33.3% (from a low base), and tourists from Africa were up 11% (also from a low base).
Overnight stays in tourist accommodation were 6.0% higher in August, the data showed, with Romanian tourist stays rising 5.4%, and foreign tourist stays up 12.1%.
On a regional basis, Constanța led the way in terms of tourist arrivals with 1,561.8 thousand visitors, followed by Bucharest Municipality with 1,282.8 thousand visitors, and Brașov with 991.6 thousand visitors.
Regarding foreign tourists, the highest number of arrivals in these accommodations during the same period came from Germany, totaling 164.6 thousand visitors, followed closely by Italy with 139.9 thousand and Israel with 103.7 thousand visitors.
Both sets of data were compiled by INSSE, the Romanian national institute of statistics, and can be found here and here.
