Sales of food, beverages and tobacco increased by an annual 2.8% during January-May, non-food sales rose 11.5% and sales of fuels climbed 3.7%, the statistical office said in a statement.
Based on unadjusted data, retail sales rose 8% on the year in the five months through May. In May alone, Romania's retail sales increased by an adjusted 6.1% and an unadjusted 5.7% year-on-year.
Compared with the previous month, the adjusted retail turnover volume in May inched down by 0.4% as sales of non-food products and automotive fuels fell by 1.3% and 0.9%, respectively. However, food, beverages and tobacco sales increased by 1.2% on the month. The figures do not include trade in motor vehicles and motorcycles.