The annual growth of the net average wage in Romania eased to +3.9% y\/y to RON 5,671 (EUR 1,113) in Q1, from 4.4% y\/y in Q4, 2025, and 9.7% y\/y in Q1, 2025, according to data published by the statistics office INS. Adjusted for inflation, the real advance of the net wages remained for the third consecutive quarter in the negative area with a solid -5.2% y\/y not far from the -4.9% y\/y in Q4 and -4.2% y\/y in Q3.<\/p>\n
Wages in public administration contracted nominally by 4.9% y\/y, while those in education by 3.9% y\/y. The wages in the healthcare sector remained roughly stable (-0.1% y\/y) in Q1.<\/p>\n
When expressed in euros, the average net wage in Romania maintains a marginal (+1.5% y\/y) annual advance \u2013 explained by the local currency\u2019s nominal stability (real appreciation). This is, however, below the average inflation in the euro area.<\/p>\n
Households\u2019 thinner incomes already surfaced in the weaker private consumption readings, with an impact on the overall GDP. Retail sales contracted by 5.8% y\/y in Q3, marking the third consecutive quarter of negative growth. The period coincides with the higher inflation, fiscal consolidation efforts, and negative quarterly dynamics of GDP.<\/p>\n