Even if Romanians became more sensitive in face of promises made by the candidates at the local and parliamentary elections in 2012, the general index measured by the Consumer Confidence Barometer from GfK shows that Romanians were more optimistic and confident than in 2012 than in 2011.

However, over half of Romanians said last month that their family's financial situation is worse than 12 months ago, while one in ten people believed that it was better. As for their financial perspectives, only 28 percent say they believed it would worsen, compared to December 2010 when over half the population has the same bleak expectations. The level of optimism is 6 percentage points higher compared to December 2010 and 2011, now reaching 21 percent.

68 percent of respondents stated that the general state of the economy has suffered a setback last year compared to 2011. Only 7 percent of Romanians believes that the overall economic situation has improved in the last year, while hopes for 2013 are slightly higher, 21 percent of them waiting to get better.

Regarding expectations for inflation, there is a steady tendency. In December 2012, similarly to in December 2011, the same number of Romanian expected price increase in 2013 - 69 percent. When it came to inflation last year, a record ratio of Romanian believe that prices were higher compared to the previous year – 83 percent compared to 72 percent in the last month of 2011.

Unemployment prospects are somehow better. The average of pessimists in 2012 stands at only 63.5 percent compared with 71 percent in 2011 and 84.5 percent in 2010. In December 2012, 9 percent of respondents even said they are optimistic about the development of unemployment.

The attitude towards savings recorded changes for the better. 78.5 percent of Romanians believe that there is a good time to save money, while more than half say that their income barely covers their current spending. The percentage of those who say they are in debt has improved compared to the end of 2010, standing at 19 percent (vs. 26 percent in December 2010).

Ioana Toader, ioana.toader@romania-insider.com