Romania’s retail market went through a contrasting first quarter in 2026 amid macroeconomic troubles, but the high street and medium-term development remain robust, according to the Romanian Retail Marketbeat Q1 2026 report published by commercial real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.  Inflation reached 9.9% in Romania at the beginning of 2026, the highest rate in the European Union, directly impacting retail sales, which declined by 5.8% in real terms. This decrease was driven by a 9.2% drop in non-food product sales and a 2.7% decrease in the consumption of food, beverages, and tobacco. However, analysts anticipate a recovery starting in the second half of the year (H2 2026), as the effects of fiscal measures stabilize, with a year-end inflation forecast of ~5%.  Nevertheless, the economic context pulled Romania’s retail market down, with few deliveries and low supply.