More than half of the respondents (57%) believe that it is very likely that our country will face an economic crisis in 2024. It is worth noting that most of the young respondents (aged 18-24) believe that Romania will be affected by an economic crisis this year (84%). As for the source of a potential economic crisis, most Romanians surveyed consider inflation as the main cause (76%), followed by international conflicts (56%), legislative changes (40%), electoral elections (39%), unemployment (23%) or unexpected personal events (23%).

More than half (66%) of survey participants believe that "money put aside" is a safe way to save, with 60% of them banking on savings deposits in the bank.

At the same time, 42 of respondents trust bond investments and 26% prefer investing on the stock exchange through authorised brokerage platforms (26%), while 17% of respondents say investing in cryptocurrencies is a safe way to make a profit.

"It is natural in uncertain times to want to save for a more stable future. In this context, it is more prudent not to 'put all our eggs in one basket' and be open to diversifying investment methods. In a context in which inflation is seen by most Romanians as a possible cause of a possible economic crisis, the data show that, in the face of this phenomenon, putting money aside "in the mattress" or in bank deposits is not a way to save. In this case, passive investments can be considered, but such decisions need to be backed up by thorough documentation, as they come with a degree of risk", explains Irina Cristescu, general manager of XTB Romania.

In terms of a strategy to cope with possible financial difficulties, 48% of respondents say they plan to continue with their current savings plan, 27% plan to increase investments, while 13% plan to reduce the amount of money allocated to this, "Regardless of the strategy adopted, it is important that if we choose to invest in a diversified way, we identify the provider that offers us the necessary support, especially in terms of risk management," adds Irina Cristescu.

The survey, conducted by Reveal Marketing Research in May 2024, included a sample of 1,004 respondents (male and female, aged 18+) from urban and internet-using urban areas.