BUDAPEST: Retail sales in Hungary saw a year-on-year rise of 4.1% in April, according to raw data, and rose by 5.0% adjusted for calendar effects, decelerating from March’s 6.5% increase, Hungary’s Central Statistics Office (KSH) said today in its second reading of data.
The volume of sales increased by 1.6% in specialized and non-specialized food retailing, KSH data suggest. The volume of sales grew by 1.5% in non-specialized food, drinks and tobacco stores accounting for 78% of food retailing and by 2.7% in specialized food, beverage and tobacco stores, the statistics office said.
The turnover of non-food retailing increased by 7.1%, KSH said, adding that sales rose in second-hand goods shops (19%), textiles, clothing and footwear shops (15%), pharmaceutical, medical goods and cosmetics shops (7.3%), books, computer equipment and other specialized stores (7.2%), as well as in non-specialized stores (4.8%). The volume of sales in furniture and electrical goods stores remained unchanged. Adjusted for calendar year effects, retail sales were up 5.0% year-on-year in April.
KSH noted that legislation requiring most big retailers to remain closed on Sundays came into force in mid-March, but it said that more time and data were needed to measure the effects of the new rule.
