Inflation is the main reason for concern for the Romanians, more than for the other Europeans.

Inflation, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the cost of healthcare services are the Romanians’ main concern during this period, according to a study conducted last month by a management consultancy company. The study focused on three main issues – how consumers feel, what they observe and how they react. Most Romanians, around 80%, have changed their shopping behavior in the last few weeks, as far as food and other essential products are concerned.

The study shows that people picked cheaper brands, especially when they purchased products for the house, snacks, sweets and dairy produce. In the last month alone, 3 out of 10 Romanians have changed the store they buy essential products from, opting for the one with smaller prices. Around one quarter of Romanians said they took this decision in order to get a better quality-price ratio or higher quality products. Moreover, most Romanians expect the price of basic products to go up throughout the entire next year. Thus, consumers now purchase less from shops closer to their home or from specialized stores, preferring the supermarkets, hypermarkets and discounter type stores, following the tendency to favor price over comfort.

Discounter shops have the most faithful customers, but this type of shops are insufficient, the study also shows. That is why, a quarter of consumers have never shopped in a discounter shop. The study also shows that the specialized shops are most affected by this behavior, 41% of their customers buying less in the last few weeks.

According to the study, the effects of inflation are worrying especially for the high income people, and for people aged 58 to 76. At the same time, people born between 1981 and 1996 are most worried about keeping their job, while the younger persons are concerned about climate change.

As compared with other countries in Europe, it is only the Britons that are more worried about the rise in prices than the Romanians, inflation being the most important reason for concern for two thirds of them. Less worried about it are the Italians, the French and the Germans – only half of them  – the study also shows. Worth mentioning is also that after inflation, Romanians, mostly the high-income category and people aged over 60, fear most the attacks in Ukraine. The elderly and the low income people are also concerned about access to healthcare services. Taking part in the research were around one thousand respondents, aged over 18, from all social categories.

Daniela Budu, Radio Romania International