Retail trade turnover has been decreased in March

The volume of retail sales decreased by 3.6 percent in March, and declined with 3.2 percent in the first quarter compared to the same period of previous year – states the Central Statistical Office.

The retail trade turnover was 1519 billion HUF in the first three months of 2009. March data was 561 billion HUF. Fourty-seven percent, nearly half of retail sales, occurred in the food retail business and the food feature retail. The turnover of food decreased the same extent as the average in March. In  the first quarter the decline was slightly below the average. Only the turnover of the perfumery and fuel sales could show a slight increase. The largest decrease was in the furniture and building materials business.