Retail keeps plunging

According to KSH’s report, there was a 4-percent decline in domestic retail turnover in March, compared with data from March 2009. In the 1st quarter, retail turnover was 4.6 percent lower than in the same period the previous year. Domestic retail network and mail order companies generated sales of HUF 1,557 billion in the 1st quarter (HUF 582 billion in March). Food and food type stores realised 47 percent of retail sales; in the 1st quarter the turnover of food stores decreased by 3.1 percent in terms of volume, compared to the 1st quarter in 2009. Hypermarkets, supermarkets and small shops (which represent 91 percent of sales) sold 3.3 percent less in volume this March, compared with March 2009.