Sales in Retail Shops Up by 5.7%

In October 2021, the volume of retail trade in both raw and calendar-adjusted data was 5.7% higher in Hungary than in the same month of the previous year, the country's Central Statistical Office reports.

In October, calendar-adjusted sales volumes rose by 3.4% in specialised and non-specialised food shops, by 6.3% in non-food retailing and, as a result of the low base in October by 11.5% in automotive fuel retailing compared to the same period last year. In January–October 2021, the volume of sales – also according to calendar adjusted data – was 3.1% higher than in the corresponding period of the previous year.

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

The volume of sales increased by 3.4% in specialized and non-specialized food retailing. The volume of sales increased by 4.0% in non-specialized food and beverages shops accounting for 75% of food retailing and by 1.7% in specialized food, beverage and tobacco stores.

The turnover of non-food retailing increased by a total of 6.3%. Sales volumes rose by 17% in second-hand goods shops, by 16% in textiles, clothing and footwear shops, by 9.9% in pharmaceutical, medical goods and cosmetics shops, by 7.9% in books, computer equipment and other specialized stores and by 3.0% in non-specialized shops dealing in manufactured goods. Sales volumes fell by 8.3% in furniture and electrical goods stores.

Mail order and internet retailing, which covers a wide range of goods and accounts for 8.6% of retail sales, continued to expand in volume, by 12%.

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 4.2%.