The average earnings in Romania fell in February by 0.5% from January, to RON 1,731 net (EUR 391).

The highest value of EUR 1,165 was recorded in tobacco manufacturing, whereas hotels and restaurants provided the smallest average earnings of EUR 226.

Average wages dropped in most sectors because companies offered occasional bonuses in the previous months, or they faced economic challenges, according to the National Institute of Statistics.

The largest decreases of 9.5% - 10% were recorded in the storage and auxiliary transport activities, crude oil and natural gas extraction or financial intermediation.

Cigarette producers recorded the highest growth in earnings, of 39.9%.

editor@romania-insider.com