Sales in Retail Shops Up by 16.2% in Hungary

In March 2022, the volume of retail trade in both raw and calendar-adjusted data was 16.2% higher in Hungary than in the same month of the previous year, the country's Central Statistical Office reports.

In March, calendar-adjusted sales volumes were essentially unchanged in specialized and non-specialized food shops and rose by 29.7% in non-food retailing and – due to the surplus purchases in mid-month – by 51.4% in automotive fuel retailing compared to the same period last year. In January-March 2022, the volume of sales – also according to calendar adjusted data – was 10.3% higher than in the corresponding period of the previous year.

In March 2022, compared to the same period of the previous year, adjusted for calendar effects:

The volume of domestic retail sales increased by 16.2%.

The volume of sales was essentially unchanged in specialized and non-specialized food retailing. The volume of sales decreased by 0.3% in non-specialized food and beverages shops accounting for 76% of food retailing and increased by 2.4% in specialized food, beverage and tobacco stores.

The turnover of non-food retailing increased by a total of 29.7% in volume. Sales volumes rose fourfold in textiles, clothing and footwear shops, threefold in second-hand goods shops, by 75% in furniture and electrical goods stores, by 59% in books, computer equipment and other specialized stores, by 13% in non-specialized shops dealing in manufactured goods and by 8.3% in pharmaceutical, medical goods and cosmetics shops.

The volume of mail order and internet retailing accounting for 8.9% of all retail sales and involving a wide range of goods fell by 7.3%.

The volume of sales in automotive fuel stations increased – due to the mid-month surplus purchases – by 51.4%.

Sales in motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts and accessories stores not belonging to retail data increased by 9.1%.

In March 2022:

Domestic retail sales amounted to HUF 1,375 billion at current prices.

Specialized and non-specialized food shops accounted for 44% of all retail sales, while the relevant figures for non-food retail trade and retail trade of petrol stations were 36% and 20% respectively.