Romania halves budget deficit to 1.75% of GDP on five months
Romania has achieved a significant fiscal adjustment in the first five months of 2026, narrowing its budget deficit to RON 35.94 billion (€7.19 billion), or 1.75% of GDP.
Romania has achieved a significant fiscal adjustment in the first five months of 2026, narrowing its budget deficit to RON 35.94 billion (€7.19 billion), or 1.75% of GDP.
Romania's consolidated general budget execution for the first four months of 2026 ended with a significantly reduced deficit of RON 23.95 billion (€4.79 billion), representing 1.17% of GDP, compared to a deficit of 2.92% of GDP recorded in the same period of 2025.
Romania's trade deficit fell 9.3% to €7.7 billion in the first three months of 2026, down €792.1 million compared to the same period in 2025, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
Romania's budget deficit calculated according to the European ESA methodology has dropped from 9.3% of GDP in 2024 to 7.9% of GDP in 2025, representing a correction of 1.4 percentage points of GDP.
The World Bank has significantly downgraded its economic growth projections for Romania this year, lowering expectations to 0.5% from the 1.3% forecast issued at the start of 2026.
The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved a €544 million Development Policy Loan to support Romania's efforts to restore fiscal sustainability, enable private sector-led growth and foster job creation.
Romania's consolidated general budget recorded a deficit of RON 14.23 billion (€2.86 billion) - 0.70% of GDP, in the first two months of 2026, half the RON 30.24 billion deficit (€2.86 billion) - 1.58% of GDP from the same period in 2025.
The joint plenary session of Parliament officially adopted the 2026 state budget and social security budget projects on Friday.
Romania's trade deficit decreased by €673 million to €32.7 billion in 2025, representing a 2% improvement compared to 2024, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
Romania's Ministry of Finance announced that the consolidated general budget execution for 2025 ended with a cash deficit of RON 146.03 billion (€28.65 billion), representing 7.65% of GDP, down one percentage point from the 8.67% deficit recorded in 2024.
Romania's trade balance deficit (FOB/CIF) for January-November 2025 reached €29.77 billion, down €299.6 million (-1.0%) compared to the same period in 2024, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
Romania's government ordinance passted at the end of last year signals to companies that fiscal pressure could ease and the series of tax increases might end in 2026.
Romania's consolidated general budget recorded a deficit of RON 121.77 billion (€23.90 billion), equivalent to 6.40% of GDP, in the first eleven months of 2025, down 0.74 percentage points from 7.15% in the same period of 2024.
Romania's consolidated general budget recorded a deficit of €21.8 billion (RON 108.87 billion) in the first ten months of 2025, representing 5.72% of GDP. This marks a decrease of €110 million compared to the same period in 2024, when the deficit stood at 6.22% of GDP.
Romania's real GDP growth is forecast to remain low over the next two years, primarily due to the necessary fiscal consolidation measures that will slow consumption.
Romania recorded the largest general government deficit in the EU during the second quarter of 2025, reaching -8.7% of GDP.
Romania's consolidated budget deficit has widened to 4.54% of GDP after the first eight months of 2025, an increase from the 4.04% reported in July 2025.
The Romanian government has set a budget deficit target of 8.4% of GDP for this year, as agreed with representatives from the EC, according to PM Ilie Bolojan.
Romania's consolidated general budget execution closed the first seven months of 2025 with a nominal deficit of RON 76.44 billion (€15.34 billion), an increase of RON 5.4 billion.
Romania's inflation rate, already among the highest in CEE at 5.8% as of June 2025, is projected to rise sharply, could potentially reach close to 9% in the coming months.

Energy company Electrica informs investors and the capital market that it has obtained the technical grid connection permits (ATR) for 17 new battery energy storage projects (BESS), with a total capacity of approximately 700 MWh.
The European Retail Banking Radar, Kearney's latest study now in its 18th edition, shows that Europe is entering a period of normalisation following the conditions of 2023–2025. For Romania, the challenge extends beyond the normalisation of interest rates.
Digi Spain has announced its intention to launch an initial public offering (IPO) on the Spanish stock exchanges, aiming to raise approximately €150 million.
Romania's national electricity transmission network operator, Transelectrica, has halted scheduled maintenance shutdowns to ensure the grid operates at maximum capacity during an ongoing extreme heatwave. The preventive measures aim to mitigate operational risks associated with severe weather conditions.
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, Romanian measures for the national investment and development bank Banca de Investiții și Dezvoltare (BID).