– 91% of Romanians are concerned about the state of the economy and prices
– The stress score rises to 65 (alert level)
– Nervousness decreases (23% vs. 27%)—a sign of adaptation following the shocks experienced
– Purchase intent is rising slightly over the next 3 months for:
- durable goods (24% vs. 18%)
- renovations (35% vs. 30%)
A new study by iSense Solutions shows that the pressure felt by Romanian consumers increased in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the beginning of the year—and remains at an alarming level. Romanians are simultaneously facing rising prices, political instability, health concerns, and a tense international environment. However, a new trend is emerging: anxiety is declining, and purchase intentions for big-ticket items are rebounding.
The consumer stress index remains at an alert level
The Consumer Stress Score (CSS) remains at an alert level in Q2 2026, rising slightly from 63.3 in Q1 2026 to 65 in Q2 2026.
Financial Fears Are Growing: 9 Out of 10 Romanians Are Worried About Prices and the State of the Economy
The increases in the score stem primarily from the financial sector. Concerns about rising prices and the country’s economic situation rose from 87% in Q1 2026 to 91% in Q2 2026—a level that places financial concerns at the top of all categories measured.
Health and Safety: Hantavirus and Military Incidents Fuel Anxiety
News reports on various global epidemics—with hantavirus receiving the most media coverage—and military incidents related to the war in Ukraine that also affected Romania contributed significantly to the rise in the stress score in Q2 2026. Concerns about personal and family health rose from 81% in Q1 2026 to 86% in Q2 2026, while concerns about personal and family safety rose from 75% in Q1 2026 to 80% in Q2 2026.
Distrust of the authorities remains high
Lack of trust in Romania’s political and public authorities remains high in Q2 2026—61%, compared to 58% in Q1 2026. Government instability and negotiations that have yielded no concrete results continue to fuel this perception.
Paradox: Stress Increases, Nervousness Decreases
Paradoxically, even though consumers’ stress levels remain high, their level of nervousness declines from 27% in Q1 2026 to 23% in Q2 2026. This may signal the beginning of an increase in consumer resilience and an adjustment to a prolonged difficult environment.
“The data from Q2 2026 show a consumer who hasn’t escaped the pressure, but who has learned to live with it. Reduced anxiety, combined with a slight increase in desire to purchase for goods long-term use in the next 3 months, suggests that Romanians are moving beyond a phase of shock to one of adaptation,” said Traian Năstase, Managing Partner at iSense Solutions.
Consumer behavior: caution remains the defining that defines
In terms of consumer behavior over the past 3 months, the trend of buying smaller quantities of products (67%) and going out less often to save money (78%) continued in Q2 2026. At the same time, 8 out of 10 Romanians are looking for discounts on retailers’ apps—a percentage similar to that in Q1 2026.
The Hunt for Low Prices: Uptrading Is on the Decline
Amid the rush for discounts, in Q2 2026, 55% of urban Romanians reported that they had purchased less expensive brands. The percentage of those purchasing more expensive brands is on a downward trend: from 26% in 2025 to 23% in Q1 2026 and 18% in Q2 2026 —figures that confirm that spending caution is making its mark even on the premium segment.
The holidays bring renovations: purchase intentions are on the rise slightly
When it comes to purchasing intentions for the next 3 months, the approaching holiday season brings a slight increase in spending intentions for home renovations (35% in Q2 2026 —likely and definitely will spend—compared to 30% in Q1 2026) and on furniture and home decor (30% in Q2 2026, compared to 26% in Q1 2026).
Durable goods are back on the shopping list
The second quarter of 2026 shows increased interest in purchasing durable goods over the next 3 months – 24% of respondents say they are likely or certain to make a purchase, compared to 18% in Q1 2026.
The Romanian consumer in 2026 isn’t any more at ease; rather, he has grown accustomed to the situation
Prices are still high, the political environment is unstable, and the global situation remains tense. External pressures remain, but the way people are reacting has changed. The panic has subsided somewhat, nervousness has eased, and plans for postponed purchases have begun to resurface tentatively.
For businesses, the message is clear: caution and recovery go hand in hand during this period.
Methodology and Sample
The Consumer Stress Score (CSS) is a quarterly index developed by iSense Solutions, calculated on a scale from 0 to 100. The survey is conducted online during the second month of each quarter, using a sample of 500 respondents representative of Romania’s urban population aged 18 to 65. The CSS measures stress levels across five dimensions: financial stress, health and safety stress, psychological stress, political stress, and technological stress. The indicator is correlated with the consumer attitudes and behaviors adopted by respondents in response to their state of mind.
The data were collected in February for Q1 and in May for Q2. The margin of error is ±4.2% for Q2, at a 95% confidence level.