Volume of sales in retail shops decreased also in June

In June 2012, sales in retail shops decreased by 1.7% in volume year-on-year. A fall in the sales of
petrol stations as well as furniture and electrical goods shops played a determining role in this
decrease, while sales in food, drinks and tobacco stores increased in volume.

In terms of volume, retail sales decreased by 1.7% in June 2012 and by 1.1% in the first half of 2012, year-onyear.
Retail shops, mail order houses and online sales generated HUF 687 billion of sales in June and
HUF 3793 billion of sales in the first half of 2012.

Year-on-year, the volume of sales in food, drinks and tobacco stores rose by 0.9% in June and by 0.6% in
the first half of 2012.

Year-on-year, the turnover of non-food retail trade – at constant prices – decreased by 4.2% in June and by
2.0% in the first half of 2012. In June, the highest decrease was in pharmaceutical and medical goods shops
(11.7%) and in furniture and electrical goods stores (10.4%). Sales volumes also declined in non-specialized
stores and in second hand shops. At the same time, sales remained stagnant in books, computer equipment and
other specialized stores, and increased in mail order and internet retailing, cosmetics articles shops as well as
in textiles, clothing and footwear shops.

In June, sales at petrol stations continued to decrease as a result of high fuel prices. Sales declined by 2.9% in
both June and in the first half of 2012
Month-on-month, retail sales – according to seasonally and calendar adjusted data – remained unchanged in
volume. Sales increased by 0.3% in food, drinks and tobacco stores, while non-food retailing essentially
remained stagnant and automotive fuel sales increased by 0.7% due to, among others, an upswing in international
tourism.

In domestic retail sales, Central-Hungary continued to account for the largest part, its proportion amounted to
38.1% in quarter 1 2012. Other regions accounted for between 8.3-11.8% of retail sales. Retail sales volumes rose
in almost all regions, Southern Great Plain (1.6%) and Central Transdanubia (1.5%) saw the highest increases. Falls
were seen in two regions: Southern Transdanubia (1.0%) and Northern Hungary (0.4%).

According to the Eurostat’s news release of 3 August – based on calendar-adjusted data – retail sales fell by
0.7% in volume in the 27 member states of the European Union and by 1.2% in the euro zone year-on-year.
According to available data which do not cover all countries, eleven states showed an increase, two no change and
nine a fall. Out of the proportionately more significant countries of the region, France and the United Kingdom
showed increases (0.9% and 0.6% respectively), while Germany a decrease (0.4%) in the volume of retail sales.
Sales decreased at higher rate in Hungary than in the EU-27 on average.