Cosmetics retail chain The Body Shop Romania witnessed 8% decline in Q1 sales to 290,000 euros, compared with the same time last year. “The sales decline is due – we think, to the reduction in the purchasing power induced by the upkeep expenses, the housing loans and the sales of home appliances in instalments, which lowered the amounts of money set aside for consumer goods,” said Dana Tudorache, general manager of The Body Shop Romania. The UK-based company is operating only four stores in Romania at the moment, three of which in Bucharest and one in Constanta. ZF