Remus Ștefureac (INSCOP): Romanians are adapting their decisions to a prolonged economic crisis

Romania is entering a stage of “normalizing economic uncertainty,” in which the population does not consider the situation acceptable but is beginning to adjust its decisions to cope with difficulties that could persist, says Remus Ștefureac, director of INSCOP Research.

The interpretation is based on the September edition of the NewMoney–INSCOP Economic Sentiment Index. The overall indicator rose marginally, from -39.5 to -38.1 points, on a scale from -100 to +100. According to Ștefureac, the development does not indicate a change in the climate, but rather the stabilization of distrust in the economy.

Perceived inflation remains the main source of pessimism. A total of 86.1% of respondents expect prices to rise over the next six months, while 42.3% say their incomes have fallen over the past year. At the same time, only 4.3% believe the economic situation will improve over the next six months, while 51.2% do not anticipate a recovery in the foreseeable future.

Ștefureac nevertheless notes an apparent paradox: although pessimism persists, intentions to save, invest and make purchases are rising. The proportion of those intending to buy euros has risen to 24.1%, the share of people planning to save in a bank deposit to 27.4%, while the intention to purchase household appliances or furniture has reached 34.1%.

These figures do not signal a return of optimism, but rather cautious adaptation: households are prioritizing their spending and trying to protect their resources in an economic environment perceived as difficult and prolonged.