Retail Sales Down Year-on-Year in Hungary

In September 2020, the volume of sales in retail shops decreased by 1.6% according to raw data and by 2.0% when adjusted for calendar effects compared to the same period of the previous year. 

Providing the details, a fresh report by the Central Statistical Office says that the volume of sales, adjusted for calendar effects, increased by 2.0% in specialized and non-specialized food shops and decreased by 3.8% in non-food retail shops and by 9.8% in automotive fuel retailing.

In January–September 2020, the volume of sales – also according to calendar adjusted data – was 0.5% higher than in the corresponding period of the previous year. In September 2020, the seasonally and calendar-adjusted volume of sales in retail shops increased by 1.0% compared to the previous month.

The volume of sales increased by 2.0% in specialized and non-specialized food retailing. The volume of sales increased by 2.2% in non-specialized food and beverages shops accounting for 75% of food retailing and by 0.6% in specialized food, beverage and tobacco stores.

The turnover of non-food retailing decreased by a total of 3.8%. Sales rose in medical and cosmetics goods shops (5.2%) as well as in non-specialized shops dealing in manufactured goods (0.7%). The volume of sales fell in books, computer equipment and other specialized stores (-8.0%), furniture and electrical goods stores and textiles, clothing and footwear shops (-21% each), as well as in second hand goods shops (-23%).

The volume of mail order and internet retailing accounting for 8.4% of all retail sales and involving a wide range of goods rose by 33%, continuing a multi-year expansion.

The volume of sales in automotive fuel stations decreased by 9.8%.

Sales in motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts and accessories stores not belonging to retail data increased by 1.0%.