Retails Sales Up in Hungary by 6.2%

In December 2021, the volume of sales in retail trade increased by 6.7% according to raw data and by 6.2% when adjusted for calendar effects compared to the same period of the previous year, Hungary’s Central Statistical Office reports.

Calendar-adjusted sales volumes rose by 2.7% in specialized and non-specialized food shops, by 8.7% in non-food retailing and by 11.5% in automotive fuel retailing compared to the same period last year. In 2021, the volume of sales – also according to calendar adjusted data – was 3.5% higher than in the previous year.

In December 2021, compared to the same period of the previous year, adjusted for calendar effects:

• The volume of domestic retail sales increased by 6.2%.
• The volume of sales increased by 2.7% in specialized and non-specialized food retailing, within this the volume of sales also increased by 2.7% in non-specialized food and beverages shops accounting for 77% of food retailing and by 2.1% in specialized food, beverage and tobacco stores.
• The turnover of non-food retailing increased by a total of 8.7%. Sales volumes rose by 37% in textiles, clothing and footwear shops, by 34% in second-hand goods shops, by 12% in pharmaceutical, medical goods and cosmetics shops, by 9.5% in books, computer equipment and other specialized stores and by 5.0% in non-specialized shops dealing in manufactured goods. Sales volumes fell by 0.6% in furniture and electrical goods stores.
• Mail order and internet retailing, which covers a wide range of goods and accounts for 10% of retail sales, grew in volume by 1.4%.
• Sales volumes in automotive fuel stations increased by 11.5%.
• Sales in motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts and accessories stores not belonging to retail data decreased by 11%.