MACROECONOMIC CONTEXT
Preliminary data shows Romania’s 2024 GDP growth at 0.9%, below expectations. Rising domestic demand led to higher imports, while lower exports, higher energy prices and wage increases weighed on economic performance.
Romania’s inflation rate is the EU’s highest, at an annual average of 5.6% in 2024, but is expected to fall below 4% by 2027. Inflation remains high, so the National Bank of Romania has gradually lowered key interest rates. The rate was 6.03% at the end of 2024.
The unemployment rate remained stable at 5.3% in the first half of 2024, 0.6% below the EU average. However, job vacancy rates are declining across Europe, with Romania’s rate at 0.8% in Q3 2024, the lowest in the EU. The cooling labor market could lead to lower consumer spending, lower wage growth, and increased pressure on social safety nets as job opportunities become scarcer.
Romania’s average net wage rose 11% to €1,135/month in December 2024. The net minimum wage increased to €475/month and will rise to €517/month on January 1, 2025.
ROMANIAN INVESTMENT MARKET HIGHLIGHT
Following an underwhelming 2023, which saw the smallest investment volume in more than a decade, 2024 seemed to have unfrozen investor interest in the Romanian real estate market. Although the investment volume remained below long-term average, momentum picked up, with a series of large transactions expanding into 2025, indicating an upward trend in investment activity in the coming months.
BUCHAREST OFFICE MARKET HIGHLIGHT
After an election year characterized by political uncertainty and a weaker-than-anticipated economic climate, Bucharest’s office market saw a sluggish performance during the first nine months. However, activity picked up in Q4, a trend expected to persist into 2025.
ROMANIAN INDUSTRIAL MARKET HIGHLIGHT
Romania’s full admission into the Schengen area, alongside ongoing highway expansion and rail infrastructure upgrades in key industrial hubs such as the Port of Constanța, are expected to enhance connectivity, attract investment, and strengthen the logistics sector.
BUCHAREST RESIDENTIAL MARKET
Faced with growing challenges—ranging from urban permit blockages and strong inflationary pressures to a major incident that highlighted shortcomings in Romanian legislation regarding buyer protection in off-plan acquisitions—the Bucharest residential market managed to perform better than anticipated in 2024, demonstrating resilience amid uncertainty.
BUCHAREST LAND MARKET HIGHLIGHT
Faced with growing challenges—ranging from urban permit blockages and strong inflationary pressures to a major incident that highlighted shortcomings in Romanian legislation regarding buyer protection in off-plan acquisitions—the Bucharest residential market managed to perform better than anticipated in 2024, demonstrating resilience amid uncertainty.
For more information, please refer to the full report.
