The more than expected decline in retail sales surprised the analysts

Retail sales in April decreased much larger-than-expected – say analysts who expected a decline of over 1 percent in 2012.

According to the Monday communication of the Central Statistical Office (KSH), the volume of retail sales in April 2012 was 2.7 percent below than in the same period of the previous year.

Retail sales declined much more sharply than expected in April, compared to last year – said Suppan Gergely, senior analyst at the Savings Bank.

The analysts said that the retail sales trend was influenced by the fact that the Easter holidays were held earlier this year, which meant that the bulk of the purchases were made in March. This reflects the fact that the sales of the food retail stores in March rose by 2.6 percent, and declined by 1.8 percent in April compared to the same months of the last year.  (MTI)