Romania, Not Ready For A Major Earthquake
Forty-one years ago, Romania was shaken by a powerful earthquake and capital Bucharest was the most affected. In just 56 seconds, the then-quake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale killed 1,500 people, injured 11,000 and caused serious damages.
Forty-one years since the most powerful quake that shook Romania, the Bucharest City Hall allocates EUR10 million for the refurbishment of 20 buildings, considering that Bucharest has 174 buildings in seismic risk class I. (cotidianul.ro)
Three-Month ROBOR Falls To 2.08%
The three-month ROBOR index, used to calculate interests on loans in lei with variable interest, fell to 2.08% per year on Monday, from 2.09% on Friday, according to central bank data.
The three-month ROBOR returned close to the level in December. On October 28, 2017, the index stood at 2.08% per year.
The six-month ROBOR index, which is used to calculate interests on leu-denominated mortgage loans, reached 2.41% on Monday, from 2.43% last Friday.
Central bank data also show the three-month ROBOR stood at 2.05% at the beginning of 2018. (romanialibera.ro)
Romania Posts Highest Increase In Total Retail Trade Volume In EU In January 2018
Romania registered the highest increase in the total retail trade volume (11%), in January 2018, compared with the year-earlier period, according to data released Monday by EU’s statistical office Eurostat.
In January 2018 compared with December 2017, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade decreased by 0.1% in both the euro area (EA19) and in the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat. In December 2017, the retail trade volume fell by 1.0% in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU28.
In January 2018 compared with January 2017, the calendar adjusted retail sales index increased by 2.3% in the euro area and by 2.7% in the EU28.
Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Estonia (-2.4), Belgium (-1.6%) and Malta (-1.4%), while the highest increases were observed in Latvia (+2.1%), Finland (+1.3%), Hungary (+1.1%) and Austria (+0.7%).
Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in the total retail trade volume were registered in Romania (+11.0%), Hungary (+7.5%), Latvia (+7.2%) and France (+6.3%), while decreases were observed in Estonia (-0.9%) and Belgium (-0.2%). (jurnalul.ro)
Nearly One Million Taxpayers Must Submit Single Tax Form
The single tax form for the income tax and social security contributions will be submitted by nearly one million taxpayers, according to Finance Ministry data, based on 2017 figures.
The single tax form, which mergers seven tax forms, eliminates the requirement to pay taxes in advance on estimated income and instates a single payment deadline instead of five throughout the year.
„Seven tax forms were merged into a single tax form and can be submitted within a single deadline. It has only one page. We estimated one million taxpayers who must submit this tax form. There is only one submission deadline and one payment deadline (…)”, Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici recently stated. (puterea.ro)