Romania's economy slid 1.2% in the first three months of this year on a gross series basis compared with the same period in 2025, and 1.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to provisional data (1) the National Institute of Statistics (INS) released on Friday.

INS revised upwards its estimate of Romania's economic performance in the first quarter of this year, from a GDP decline of 1.7% previously to 1.2%.

Statistical data show that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2026 was estimated at 403.915 billion Romanian lei at current prices on a gross series basis, down by 1.2% in real terms compared with the first quarter of 2025.

Seasonally adjusted GDP for the first quarter of 2026 was estimated at 497.820 billion lei at current prices in nominal terms and was down by 1.1% in real terms compared with the first quarter of 2025. Compared with the previous quarter, it remained unchanged.

The following sectors contributed positively to GDP growth in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the first quarter of 2025: construction (+0.4%), accounting for 5.3% of GDP formation and recording a 7.9% increase in activity volume; arts, entertainment and recreation activities, repair of household goods and other services (+0.3%), accounting for 2.8% of GDP formation and recording an 11.6% increase in activity volume.

According to INS data, negative contributions to GDP change came from industry (-0.2%), accounting for 15.8% of GDP formation and recording a 1.2% decline in activity volume; wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, transportation and storage, accommodation and food service activities (-0.8%), accounting for 22.5% of GDP formation and recording a 3.1% decline in activity volume; information and communications (-0.3%), accounting for 8.1% of GDP formation and recording a 4.1% decline in activity volume.

Further declines were recorded in real estate activities (-0.1%), accounting for 7.5% of GDP formation and recording a 1.9% decline in activity volume; professional, scientific and technical activities, administrative and support service activities (-0.3%), accounting for 6.1% of GDP formation and recording a 3.9% decline in activity volume; public administration and defence, public social security, education, health and social work activities (-0.2%), accounting for 14.6% of GDP formation and recording a 1.3% decline in activity volume.

Agriculture, financial intermediation and insurance activities made no contribution to GDP growth.

Net taxes on products also made no contribution to GDP growth. They accounted for 11.6% of GDP formation and their volume decreased by 0.6%. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Mariana Nica; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)