Sales in Hungarian Retail Shops Fell by 4.5%

All three major groups of shops – grocery, non-food and petrol – and even online sales fell in January this year in Hungary. The volume of sales in retail trade decreased by 3.9% according to raw data and by 4.5% when adjusted for calendar effects compared to the same period of the previous year, the country's Central Statistical Office reports.

In January, calendar-adjusted sales volumes decreased by 4.8% in specialised and non-specialised food shops, by 1.5% in non-food retailing and by 9.7% in automotive fuel retailing.

This is an indication of the quantity of goods purchased, not the value. As a result of the very high inflation rate, people left 22% more money in the shops - a lot less goods to buy for more money than in January last year.

In January 2023, compared to the same period of the previous year, adjusted for calendar effects:
The volume of domestic retail sales decreased by 4.5%.

The volume of sales decreased by 4.8% in specialized and non-specialized food retailing. The volume of sales decreased by 6.7% in non-specialized food and beverages shops accounting for 76% of food retailing and rose by 0.3% in specialized food, beverage and tobacco stores.

The turnover of non-food retailing decreased by a total of 1.5% in volume. Sales volumes rose by 13% in textiles, clothing and footwear shops, by 5.6% in books, computer equipment and other specialized stores, remained unchanged in second-hand goods shops, while sales volumes decreased by 1.9% in non-specialized shops dealing in manufactured goods, by 2.7% in pharmaceutical, medical goods and cosmetics shops and by 6.5% in furniture and electrical goods stores.

The volume of mail order and internet retailing accounting for 8.6% of all retail sales and involving a wide range of goods fell by 7.6%.

The volume of sales in automotive fuel stations decreased by 9.7%.

Sales in motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts and accessories stores not belonging to retail data increased by 3.9%.

In January 2023:
Domestic retail sales amounted to HUF 1,333 billion at current prices.

Specialized and non-specialized food shops accounted for 48% of all retail sales, while the relevant figures for non-food retail trade and retail trade of petrol stations were 34% and 18% respectively.