Hungary’s October Retail Sales Growth Revised Down To 6.4%

  • 20 Dec 2018 8:48 AM
  • Budapest Business Journal
Hungary’s October Retail Sales Growth Revised Down To 6.4%
Retail sales in Hungary rose 6.4% year-on-year in October, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said in a second reading of data released on Tuesday. The KSH lowered the rate from the 6.6% figure published in a preliminary reading on December 5.

The fresh data show retail sales adjusted for calendar effects rose 5.5% year-on-year in October. The volume of sales increased by 4.0% in specialized and non-specialized food retail, while non-food sales rose 7.9%, and vehicle fuel sales were up 4.4%.

Within food retail, the volume of sales grew by 5.0% in non-specialized food and beverage shops (accounting for 77% of food retail), but remained unchanged in specialized food, beverage and tobacco stores.

Within non-food retail, sales rose in non-specialized shops dealing in manufactured goods (13%), pharmaceuticals, medical goods and cosmetics (10%), textiles, clothing and footwear (8.0%), furniture and electrical goods (4.8%), second-hand goods (3.4%), and books, computer equipment and other specialized items (1.8%).

The volume of mail order and internet retail, accounting for 4.6% of all retail sales and involving a wide range of goods, rose by 23%, continuing a multi-year expansion.

In absolute terms, retail sales totaled HUF 1,033 billion at current prices in October. Food, drink and tobacco stores accounted for 44% of all retail sales, while the relevant figures for non-food retail and the network of petrol stations were a respective 39% and 17%.

For the period January-October, retail sales were up an unadjusted 6.3% year-on-year, and an adjusted 6.4%. Adjusted food sales climbed 4.0%, non-food sales rose 9.4%, and vehicle fuel sales were up 6.6% compared to the first ten months of 2017.

A first estimate of November retail sales will be published on January 7, 2019, with a second, more detailed estimate on January 24.

Related links

Hungary Retail Sales Up 6.6% Yr/Yr In Oct

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Hungary's largest and oldest source of business and financial news in English. Since 1992 it has presented essential information on Hungarian business life, including international analyses about the country. These days the BBJ newspaper is published every other week, while it releases daily business news online including premium paid content.

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