Retail sales down 12.3 percent in May

According to unadjusted data, retail sales fell by 12.7 percent. Adjusted retail sales were down 0.8 percent on the previous month.

Adjusted food sales fell by 7.3 percent, non-food sales dropped 10.9 percent and vehicle fuel sales were 25.9 percent lower.

A detailed breakdown of the data shows adjusted retail sales fell in all types of shops, with the exception of drugstores and pharmacies where they rose by 5.4 percent.

In absolute terms, retail sales came to 1,514 billion forints (EUR 4.0bn). Food sales accounted for 49 percent of the total, non-food sales for 35 percent and sales at petrol stations for 16 percent.

For the period January-May, retail sales dropped by an adjusted 10.8 percent and an unadjusted 10.9 percent year-on-year. Adjusted food sales fell by 8.0 percent, non-food sales dropped 8.7 percent and vehicle fuel sales were down 21.5 percent.