Retail sales in Hungary rose 10.6% year-on-year in March, data released by the Central Statistical Office (KSH) on Thursday show. Retail sales rose 8.2% when adjusted for calendar year effects.
Adjusted food sales increased 2.6%, non-food sales climbed 8.4% and turnover at petrol stations rose 20.6%. Online and mail-order sales volume, which accounted for 8.8% of retail turnover, rose 10.5%. In a month-on-month comparison, retail sales were up 1.9%, adjusted for seasonal and calendar year effects.
In absolute terms, retail sales came to HUF 1,799bn in March. Food sales accounted for 48% of the total, non-food sales for 36% and sales at petrol stations for 16%.
In January-March, retail sales rose an unadjusted 6.0% and an adjusted 5.3% from the same period a year earlier. Food sales increased an adjusted 2.0%, non-food sales rose 6.1% and motor fuel sales were up 11.2%.
ING Bank chief analyst Péter Virovácz said the March increase in retail sales "exceeded all expectations." He added that the trend was persistent, increasing since the end of 2023 and gradually approaching the 2022 peak. Péter Virovácz augured full-year retail sales growth of around 6.0-6.5%, supported by improving consumer confidence, low inflation and strong wage growth.
Erste Bank macro analyst János Nagy said the March retail sales growth "vastly surpassed" the consensus. He added that higher inflation and peaking consumer confidence could slow consumption growth in the second half of the year, but household consumption would remain the driver of GDP growth in 2026.
Top 5 Articles
Duna House Profit Climbs Nearly 70% in Q3 November 24, 2025 
What Awaits the Hungarian Economy in 2026 and 2027? April 24, 2026 
'Recharge' Campaign Launched to Boost Domestic Tourism January 21, 2026 
Hungary’s Growth Stalls as Inflation Returns to Target Range February 6, 2026 
Business, Consumer Confidence at Two-Year High in April April 23, 2026
