Retail sales in Romania are expected to touch $41.9bn (E33bn) in 2006, up by 16% from the $35.9bn (E28.3bn) in 2005, according to a study by Deloitte.

Food products accounted for 60% of the total retail sales in 2005. The hypermarket segment gained a market share of 18.8% in 2004 in terms of sales, up from 5% in 2001, and is expected to increase further as hypermarket operators continue to expand.

The retail market in the region including the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria reached a combined $263bn (E207.2bn) in 2005, up 7.8% from 2004. Retail sales in Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia will register the highest growth rate over the next years, the study predicted.


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