Radio România Internațional

Tag: households

  • Incomes and expenses in Romanian households

    Incomes and expenses in Romanian households

    Household spending in Romania increased in the third quarter of last year.

     

    In the third quarter of last year, a household in Romania had an average total monthly income of 8,255 lei, equivalent to about 1,650 euros, up 0.5% per household compared to the second quarter of the same year. According to the National Institute of Statistics, calculated for a single person, average monthly incomes were almost 3,300 lei, by 0.7% higher. Compared, this time, with the third quarter of the previous year, the average total monthly incomes of a household and those of a single person increased by just over 13%. Of the 8,255 lei earned in a family, last year, in the third quarter, most were spent. Higher by 9% compared to the previous year, the average monthly total expenses represented, in total, 85% of income.

     

    In 2024, an increase in the purchasing power of the population was recorded, according to financial analyst Adrian Codirlaşu, who explains why inflation is perceived as higher than the statistics indicate: ʺWe see an increase in expenses higher than inflation. It is true, there is also a volume component, because, as income increased, a larger quantity was purchased ; ideally it would be possible to separate the volume part from the price increase part. But it is possible that certain things that are part of the expenses are not included in inflation and that is why inflation is actually felt much stronger than it is in reality. In principle, the shares remained relatively similar to the previous period.ʺ

     

    The most important source of Romanians’ income was salaries and other salary rights, followed by those from social benefits, pensions,  unemployment or social assistance. In an urban household, the average total monthly income was 1.3 times higher than in rural areas, and, calculated for a single person, 1.5 times higher.

     

    Most expenses in the third quarter were incurred by the consumption of agri-food products, non-alcoholic beverages and non-food products, for the payment of utility bills, taxes, contributions, dues or fees, but also for the purchase of clothing and footwear. The lowest level of average monthly expenses of households in Romania was the one made for education. ʺ85% of incomes go to taxes and expenses,ʺ  the Bucharest press reports, concluding, ironically, that ʺRomanians have higher incomes, but spend almost everything.ʺ

     

     

  • The Danube water level on the rise

    The Danube water level on the rise

    Scores of people have been killed and reported missing in Central and Eastern Europe recently affected by Storm Boris. Although heavy rains ceased, swollen waters are still threatening various locations in the region, which is bearing the brunt of the latest flooding, which has also caused billions of Euros in material damage.

    According to the first expert estimates, in Romania the total damage would exceed one billion Euros. Others believe the figures are optimistic and the actual damage is double or even triple.

    A World Bank survey last year put the average damage caused by floods in Romania at roughly 1.7 billion Euros. Seven people have been killed and 65 thousand households affected by Storm Boris this year.

    The collective trauma is lingering and many are now fearing the rising level of Europe’s largest river, the Danube, caused by the heavy rainfalls and its many tributaries.

    The Danube’s rising level is not expected to cause issues to those in charge of its handling – Environment Minister Mircea Fechet said. According to him, a similar level was successfully handled in January this year and in December 2023.

    The Minister and Romanian Waters experts have flown by helicopter over the areas facing a higher flooding risk. According to expert estimates, the Danube’s level for the period between September 29 and 30 is expected to hit 79-80 hundred cubic meters per second. We recall that the river caused flooding in Romania in 2006, but its level at that time stood at more than 15 thousand cubic meters per second.

    Mircea Fechet: “According to the information made available by my colleagues, we aren’t going to have any problems whatsoever in Romania.   The flood peak in Budapest was lower than expected, about 500 cubic meters per second, which means that for the period we are going to see this peak in Romania, on September 28 or 29, forecasts have diminished from the initial ones standing at 95 hundred meters.”

    According to the latest data gleaned, the risk of serious issues on the Romanian sector of the Danube, is low, the Romanian Waters spokeswoman, Ana-Maria Agiu told Radio Romania. In turn, the president of Hydroelectrica board of directors, Karoly Borbely, said that the Danube’s rising level can be safely handled by Romania’s water installations. Mr. Borbely has also added that higher water levels also mean a significant electricity output.

    (bill)

  • June 26, 2022 UPDATE

    June 26, 2022 UPDATE

    FLAG DAY Events were organised in county capitals and in Romanian
    localities hosting military units, to celebrate National Flag Day on the 26th
    June. The National Flag Day was introduced to mark the day in 1848 when the
    revolutionary government proclaimed the red, yellow and blue flag as the
    national colours of all Romanians. The National Flag Day was introduced under a
    1998 law.


    MOLDOVA Russia’s ex-president and PM Dmitri Medvedev threatens that
    the Republic of Moldova will see its natural gas supplies cut and exports of
    agri-food products to the Russian market banned, if Chişinău joins the West’s
    economic sanctions against Moscow. Medvedev, currently the vice-president of
    the Security Council, posted on his Telegram channel an extensive article on
    the Republic of Moldova, which Thursday was recognised as an EU candidate country.
    According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Moscow, Medvedev says the
    accession process may take decades, which makes Moldova’s annexation by Romania
    an easier option. And, Medvedev argues, both Bucharest and Chişinău are making
    efforts in this respect. The Romanian foreign ministry says Dmitri Medvedev’s
    statements are part of Kremlin’s already known false rhetoric, disseminated in
    the Republic of Moldova both before, and after the illegal, unjustified and
    unprovoked aggression of Russia against Ukraine.


    FESTIVAL The Sibiu International Theatre Festival continues in central
    Romania until the 3rd July. This year’s motto is Beauty. This 29th
    edition of the festival brings together artists from around the world in
    theatre, dance, cinema, musical, opera and circus performances. Concerts, book
    shows and exhibitions are also organized as part of the festival. Some of the
    performances taking place in cultural or unconventional venues can be watched
    on the Festival’s official website, digital streaming platform www.scena-digitala.ro,
    and on the event’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel.


    INCOMES The average monthly income per household in Romania was
    nearly EUR 1,100 in 2021, up 8.9% since the previous year, according to the
    National Statistics Institute. The total incomes were 3.6 times higher in
    households whose members are higher-education graduates. Also, families in the
    35-49 year bracket earned the most, while in terms of geographic regions the
    highest incomes were reported in Bucharest-Ilfov (south), and the lowest in the
    north-east of the country.


    G7 The group of 7 rich democracies announced a ban on Russian gold
    imports, during a summit held on Sunday, in the context of the war in Ukraine
    and its impact on the energy and grains markets. According to Reuters, this
    adds to sanctions already introduced against Moscow after Russia invaded
    Ukraine at the end of February. The new measures will directly affect Russian
    oligarchs and strike at the heart of Putin’s war machine, the
    British PM Boris Johnson said. We need to starve the Putin regime of its
    funding. The UK and our allies are doing just that, Mr. Johnson added.


    TENNIS The Romanian player Simona Halep, no 19 WTA and former
    world leader, will take on the Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova (82 WTA), in
    the first round of the Wimbledon tournament. Halep, winner of the Wimbledon trophy
    in 2019, is seed no. 16 this year in the competition. Another Romanian player,
    Sorana Cîrstea, 32 WTA and seed no. 21, plays against Aleksandra Krunic of
    Serbia (53 WTA). Gabriela Ruse (55 WTA) has the most difficult match in the All
    England Club first round, against the American Coco Gauff, no. 12 in the world.
    Irina Begu (43 WTA) is facing Ekaterine Gorgodze of Georgia (112 WTA), in the
    same round, while Ana Bogdan (109 WTA) plays against Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska
    (74 WTA), and Irina Bara (121 WTA) against Chloe Paquet of France (101 WTA). In
    turn, Mihaela Buzărnescu (126 WTA) will play against Natasja Schunk of Germany (156
    WTA). This year’s Wimbledon tournament has record-large amounts in prize money
    (over GBP 40 million) but the WTA and ATP announced they will not assign any
    points, after the British organisers decided to bar Russian and Belarusian
    players from taking part, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (AMP)