An extensive analysis based on 150 million tax receipts issued in supermarkets in December shows a worrying picture of the way Romanians do their shopping. In the face of rising prices, many give up fresh meat and turn to sausages, canned goods, bread and ready-to-eat products, which are cheaper and faster, but less healthy options.
Despite the fact that December is traditionally the month of steaks, data shows that almost half of meat buyers chose packaged and canned meats, according to ProTv News. Fresh pork made it into just over a quarter of the baskets. The statistics are also influenced by the fact that in many areas people still butcher the pig at home or buy directly from their neighbors.
Oltenia is the leader in pork consumption. Bucharest prefers sausages
Oltenia stands out as the leader in pork purchases, with almost a third of national sales in December. A similar trend is maintained in the south and southwest. At the opposite pole is the Capital, where pork is bought the least. However, Bucharest compensates with a high consumption of packaged sausages, which represents 30% of national sales. There is also an increased appetite for fish among the people of Bucharest. In the North-East, preferences are towards preserves and fish, in accordance with Moldovan culinary traditions, where fish borscht and brine are common dishes.
Regional differences are also noticeable when it comes to baking. Oltenia leads by far in terms of bread consumption, followed by Muntenia, where bakery products end up representing almost a fifth of the total purchases in December.
In the center, west and north-west of the country, people prefer local bakeries or even home-made bread, which is why supermarkets sell less bread in these areas.
How different preferences for drinks, sweets and vegetables are shared
Interesting particularities are also noticeable in other product categories. The North West is the fizzy drink champion, while the North East dominates chocolate sales, making it the region with the biggest sweet tooth.
In the western area, shopping is more oriented towards healthy foods, with vegetables having the best sales in the country.
Oltenia reappears at the top of yogurts, fermented dairy products and dessert ingredients, confirming a traditional style of consumption rich in home-cooked dishes.
Specialists are of the opinion that Romanians opted for two distinct types of shopping baskets in December. One is the convenience basket, preferred especially in the urban environment, where people choose products that are easy to prepare, and the other is the basic basket, found especially in small towns and rural areas, where bulk, pork, oil, sugar and other essential products are bought.
The differences are driven primarily by purchasing power, economists say: in wealthier areas, discretionary spending has fallen less, while in low-income regions people have shifted strictly to necessities.
In addition to all these trends, December was also a month of massive promotions. Approx. 40% of the analyzed products were sold at a discount, a sign that retailers tried to attract customers in a time when every lei counts.
