The Romanian tech company, which specializes in retail media and data insights, revealed that spending dipped in mid-March compared to February, but began to recover towards the month's end.

Footprints AI's data, collected from retail chains, indicates that the lowest point in consumer spending was on March 21st, with a 5.2% decrease compared to the previous month. However, a 1.7% rise was noted by March 31st. The company suggests that these fluctuations reflect a trend of Romanians spending less at the start of spring to better manage their budgets for Easter.

"More and more retailers are carefully examining consumer behavior, not only to understand Romanians' preferences for certain product categories but also to streamline their operations across the entire supply chain. At the micro-level, this optimization is reflected in retailers' profitability and, indirectly, in their contribution to the economy. At the macro level, we can say that intelligently used technology can help reduce food waste, an issue that concerns us all equally," said Dan Marc, CEO and co-founder of Footprints AI.  

The analysis also highlighted other consumer trends. There was a significant increase in demand for sun protection products. Additionally, the consumption of ice cream, desserts, flowers, and gardening products saw substantial growth as spring arrived. Essential items like vegetables, fruits, chicken, beer, and snacks remained popular in this period.