PROPERTY TIMES ROMANIA INVESTMENT H1 2016

Throughout H1 2016 the Romanian economy has maintained the strong momentum carried over from last year, recording the highest increases in GDP growth in the European Union. Sustained by monetary and fiscal easing, Romania’s GDP grew by 5.2% y/y. According to the European Commission, GDP growth is forecasted to be of 4.2% in 2016 and 3.7% in 2017. Domestic demand will be the main driver of growth over the medium term, being stimulated by low inflation, tax cuts, real income increase and a constant decrease in unemployment.

In H1 2016, the total value invested in commercial property in Romania exceeded € 370 million. Bucharest attracted € 197 million, which represents more than 50% of the total investment value. The most dominant segment has been the retail sector. The estimated value of transactions of retail properties is more than € 200 million, representing 54% of the total investment volume.