When Romanians spend the most: the day of the week when they empty their cards and fill up the stores
Romanians have an increasingly predictable consumption rhythm, and each day of the week comes with its own type of shopping. Friday is the day for big purchases and stocking up for the weekend, Saturday brings in store crowds and more relaxed shopping, while Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are associated with premium spending and specialist services.
According to data on card transactions carried out in Romania, Friday generates the highest total values of purchases in most of the analyzed industries, from supermarkets and gas stations to fashion, bookstores or jewelry. In contrast, Saturday brings the highest traffic in shops and services, and the middle of the week is reserved for purchases considered more important or expensive.
“The Global Payments analysis shows that Romanians do not consume casually. There is a clear rhythm to shopping, and retailers who understand these patterns can plan their inventory, staff, promotions and services more effectively.”says Ionela Mitran.
Friday, the big shopping day
In almost all categories analyzed, Friday is the day with the highest spending.
In supermarkets, total card payments on Friday exceeded 171 million lei in the analyzed period, and the average receipt reached approximately 107 lei. On Good Friday, traders recorded the highest number of daily transactions, with receipts of over 15 million lei in a single day.
Gas stations also record the most transactions on Friday, with total payments exceeding 35 million lei and an average receipt of around 125 lei.
In the jewelry and watches category, Friday brings both the most transactions and the highest total purchase values, and the average receipt exceeds 560 lei.
Romanians also spend more in bookstores before the weekend. On Fridays, purchases from bookstores exceed 800,000 lei, and the average receipt reaches approximately 90 lei.
In fashion and footwear stores, the average Friday receipt rises to around 157 lei.
The analysis shows that Friday has become the day dedicated to stocking up, planned shopping and preparing for the weekend.
Saturday, the busiest day in retail
If Friday is associated with the necessary shopping, Saturday comes with the highest traffic in shops and services.
Around 1.5 million card transactions were made in supermarkets and grocery stores on Saturdays. However, the average bill — approximately 90 lei — remains below Friday's level. The total value of purchases reached approximately 133 million lei.
Saturday is also the busiest day for car washes, where traffic is about 18% higher than Friday.
Also during the weekend, purchases from florists increase significantly. The number of transactions is more than 40% higher than on a Friday, and the average bill reaches approximately 120 lei — the highest level of the week.
In fashion and footwear stores, there are fewer transactions than on Friday, but purchases are more consistent: the average receipt rises to almost 180 lei, about 14% above Friday's level.
The conclusion of the analysis is that, if Romanians buy “what they need” on Friday, they also buy “what they deserve” on Saturday.
The middle of the week brings premium spending
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the days when the highest average bonuses occur in premium industries and specialized services.
At the beginning of the week, appointments at the dentist increase. Monday and Tuesday are the days with the most visits, and on Tuesday the average receipt exceeds 680 lei.
Wednesday is the preferred day for purchases in the optics and accessories category. The total value of the transactions reaches approximately 3.2 million lei, and the average receipt is almost 680 lei.
And in jewelry and watch stores, Tuesdays and Wednesdays bring some of the biggest shopping of the week. The category record was set on December 23, a Tuesday, when Romanians spent almost 800,000 lei on jewelry — five times more than the average for a normal day.
Thursday and Friday also see the highest average receipts in the category of medical and physiotherapy services. In the case of physiotherapy services, the average bill can exceed 800 lei on Fridays.
Shopping for pets isn't casual either. In the pet-shop category, the number of transactions remains relatively constant from Monday to Thursday, but the highest average bill is recorded on Tuesday, approximately 112 lei.
