Romania Retail Sales Plunge 5.7% YoY in July, Worst in EU

Romania's retail sales fell 5.7% year-on-year in July 2026, the steepest decline in the EU, while the bloc averaged a 1% gain. Month-on-month sales rose 0.8%, suggesting a partial stabilization. The sharp divergence signals weak domestic consumption and potential downside risk to Romanian growth, though the monthly uptick tempers the bearish read.