FMCG retail down 16% in first four months

FMCG retail fell by 16.5% in the first four months of this year against the similar period of 2009, after the 11% contraction recorded in 2009, shows a survey conducted by market research company MEMRB.
The first four months of the year have seen even modern retail, which usually grows by eating into the market share of small convenience stores, on a downward trend: sales per square metre were down by 7.6% in RON in the mentioned period. The decline, however, is half that recorded in traditional retail (kiosks and other small stores).
“I estimate the value of sales per square metre in modern retail will fall by 10% in 2010 against last year. If consumer psychosis continues on medium term, we could see a market decline in 2010 as well,” said Marius Caluian, general manager of MEMRB Romania and the Republic of Moldova.