More wine, but less beer sold in the first nine months of 2009

According to GfK Hungária’s ConsumerScan, in the alcoholic beverages category households bought 6 percent less beer than in the same period of 2008, but as average prices were slightly up turnover in the examined period fell only by 2 percent. In January-September 2009, nearly two thirds of households bought beer, with the average purchase being 62 litres. Shopping frequency fell to 22. Bottled beers declined by nearly 20 percent, while the turnover of beer in can, plastic bottle and cask improved in the given period. Wines sales were up by 4 percent in terms of volume and by 6 percent in value. Less than half of households bought wine; the average buyer purchased 18 litres of wine at a value of HUF 8,400 – thanks to an improved buying frequency of 11.