The Central Statistical Office (KSH) said retail sales in Hungary edged up by an annual 0.6% in January, growing for the first month in a little more than a year. Retail sales also rose by 0.6% when adjusted for calendar year effects.
KSH added that adjusted food sales edged up by 0.2%, while non-food sales slipped by 0.9%. Vehicle fuel sales were 4.6% higher. A detailed breakdown of the data shows adjusted retail sales rose at supermarkets, drugstores and pharmacies, petrol stations and webshops, but fell at other shops. Retail sales were flat in a month-on-month comparison. In absolute terms, retail sales came to 1,356 billion forints (EUR 3.4bn) in January. Food sales accounted for 49% of the total, non-food sales for 35% and sales at petrol stations for 16%. Commenting the fresh data, the national economy ministry said it indicated that retail sales had passed the low point and were “in the recovery phase”.