Most Hungarians Spend Little on Foodstuff

Almost three-quarters of the population spends less than HUF 50,000 a month on food, a new poll suggests.

A survey by Pulzus Research for the business news site napi.hu also suggests that only three of 100 Hungarians have a monthly budget exceeding HUF 100,000.

As napi.hu writes, it is a natural reaction on the part of the population if it curbs investments and purchases involving more serious expenditures in times of epidemics and crises. Food and everyday household goods, on the other hand, are exceptions, as can be seen in retail statistics.

According to official statistical data, the turnover of shops selling food-type products (food, drink, tobacco) increased by 3.5% in the first nine months of last year compared to the previous year. In contrast, growth in so-called non-food products was only 1.1%. Among the latter, for example, the turnover of furniture and technical articles fell by more than 6%, and the revenue of textile, clothing and shoe stores by 25%. Store closures ordered due to the epidemic also played a role in the decline.

As the poll suggests, nearly three-quarters of the population spends less than HUF 50,000 per month on food purchases. 43% of the respondents mentioned HUF 30-50,000 forints, and 30% mentioned less than HUF 30,000. Every thirty-third Hungarian, on the other hand, has a food budget of more than HUF 100,000.