Retail sales down 1 percent yr/yr in December

In December 2023, compared to the same period of the previous year, adjusted for calendar effects, the volume of domestic retail sales decreased by 0.2%.

The volume of sales increased by 1.3% in specialized and non-specialized food retailing. The volume of sales increased by 2.4% in non-specialized food and beverages shops accounting for 78% of food retailing and decreased by 1.5% in specialized food, beverage and tobacco stores.

The turnover of non-food retailing decreased by a total of 3.0% in volume. Sales volumes rose by 6.5% in pharmaceutical, medical goods and cosmetics shops, while sales volumes decreased by 2.5% in books, computer equipment and other specialized stores, by 4.7% in non-specialized shops dealing in manufactured goods, by 6.0% in textiles, clothing and footwear shops, by 8.9% in furniture and electrical goods stores and by 15% in second-hand goods shops.

The volume of mail order and internet retailing accounting for 8.2% of all retail sales and involving a wide range of goods fell by 2.7%.

The volume of sales in automotive fuel stations was 3.8% up compared to the same month of last year, due to the end of the base effect of the fuel price cap.

Sales in motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts and accessories stores not belonging to retail data increased by 4.2%.

In December 2023 domestic retail sales amounted to HUF 1,811 billion at current prices.

Specialized and non-specialized food shops accounted for 49% of all retail sales, the relevant figures for non-food retail trade and retail trade of petrol stations were 37% and 14%.

In 2023, compared to previous year, adjusted for calendar effects the volume of retail trade decreased by 7.9%.

The volume of sales fell by 4.6% in specialized and non-specialized food shops, by 6.4% in non-food retail trade and by 19.5% in automotive fuel retail trade.