External conflicts (54%) and the outcome of internal political elections (50%) are added to the list of worries, signaling a shift of attention from internal political risks to the economic impact of global instability.
“In a volatile economic and geopolitical environment, Romanians are becoming more cautious, they prioritize the essential and seeking efficient solutions,” states Georgiana Iancu, Leader of the Retail and Consumer Products sector, EY Romania.
At an individual level, 69% of respondents are not worried about job stability and 65% feel they can cover their basic needs. Nevertheless, medium-term outlooks remain cautious: 65% are spending less on non-essential items and almost half have difficulties caused by rising prices.
For winter holidays, 53% anticipate higher expenses than last year, indicating a selecting consumption availability.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)