KSH: retail turnover exceeded the same period of the previous year by 0.4 percent, decreased by 0.5 percent compared to the previous month

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 05. 07. 12:51

In March, the volume of retail sales in Hungary decreased by 0.4 percent based on raw data, while calendar-adjusted (and Easter-adjusted) data show a 0.4 percent increase compared to the same period of the previous year – reported the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) on Wednesday.

Calendar-adjusted volume index of retail trade (same period of previous year = 100)

In food and grocery-type mixed retail stores, sales volume increased by 1.2 percent, in non-food retail by 5.9 percent, and in fuel retail by 0.1 percent, compared to the same period of the previous year, based on calendar-adjusted data.

According to seasonally and calendar-adjusted figures, the volume of retail trade was 0.5 percent lower than in the previous month.

The sales volume of food-type mixed stores, which account for 77 percent of food retail, increased by 2.7 percent, while specialized food, beverage, and tobacco stores saw a 3.1 percent decrease compared to March last year.

Within the overall 5.9 percent growth in non-food retail, textile, clothing, and footwear stores rose by 7.3 percent, pharmaceutical, medical product, and perfume stores and furniture and electrical goods stores by 4.8 percent, second-hand goods stores by 3.5 percent, and non-specialized industrial goods stores by 2.2 percent. Meanwhile, books, IT, and other specialized industrial goods stores experienced a 5.2 percent decline.

Mail-order and internet retail – which covers a wide range of products and represents 8.5 percent of total retail – grew by 5.0 percent.

Sales in motor vehicle and vehicle parts stores, which are not included in retail statistics, decreased by 0.7 percent.

According to KSH data, the total value of retail sales in Hungary in March reached HUF 1,630 billion at current prices. Of this, 49 percent came from food and grocery-type mixed retail, 36 percent from non-food retail, and 15 percent from fuel station sales.

Between January and March, the volume of retail sales rose by 2.7 percent year-on-year on a calendar-adjusted basis. Sales volumes increased by 3.0 percent in food and grocery-type mixed retail, by 5.6 percent in non-food retail, and by 0.8 percent in fuel retail, according to the KSH report.