While Romanians are also tightening their belts at barbershops and hairdressers, only one area has grown, according to official data from the INS
The turnover in the market services sector decreased by almost 10% in the first three months of the year, according to a statement sent by Statistics on Wednesday. As a rule, these numbers convey a larger signal, because they are the ones that drop first.
The data published on Wednesday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) outline consistent decreases in the consumption of services in Romania.
In the first quarter of 2026, overall retail sales fell an average of -5% compared to the same period in 2025. This was the steepest decline since the COVID pandemic.
In March 2026, the volume of turnover from market services provided to the population decreased by 8.3% compared to the same month last year – and the seasonally adjusted series shows that it is not a statistical accident, but a real contraction trend: minus 7.3% compared to March 2025.
Romanians spent 385 million lei on hairdressing and beautification activities, according to INS data, sent at the request of HotNews.
Almost no one is unscathed
The contraction is not new. The NIS monthly chart shows that after a brief period of small increases in the spring and summer of 2025, the sector went on a slide of declines from August, reaching minus 7.3% in March 2026 – the weakest result in the series.
The breakdown by sector reveals that almost no one escaped unscathed. Hair and beauty businesses lost 18.4% of turnover in the first quarter compared to the same period last year – the biggest drop on record.
Gambling and recreational activities followed with a minus 14.1%, and hotels and restaurants fell by minus 13.3%.
The only growing sector: organized tourism
The notable exception is travel agencies and tour operators, with an advance of 15.1% in the first quarter compared to Q1 2025 — perhaps the most suggestive indicator of a paradox: Romanians spend less on everyday services, but continue to travel. Or at least book through agencies.
This includes business tourism, professional trips.
The monthly comparison offers a glimmer of superficial hope: Compared to February 2026, turnover increased by 4.6% in March. Hairdressing jumped 29.5% – largely a seasonal effect associated with the approach of Easter and the wedding season.
These spending cuts are the first indicator of a broader decline
The seasonally adjusted series shows that, once calendar noise is removed, actual volume fell 0.9% from the previous month. Surface growths mask ongoing damage.
The contraction trend raises questions about the real purchasing power of Romanian households. Market services – from barbershops to restaurants and hotels – are among the first expenses cut when family budgets tighten.
Whether this compression reflects a delayed post-pandemic adjustment, a structural cooling of demand or the effect of accumulated inflation in recent years remains to be clarified.
