Car tire sales now exceed their before crisis levels, Rábai said. Sales of mid-category tires were up 15%. Premium-category sales rose 9% and lower-category sales increased 11%. Sales of summer tires climbed about 15%. Sales of winter tires rose almost 9%.

The ministry said the fresh data confirmed the government’s expectations, according to which the deficit as a percentage of GDP, calculated according to European Union rules, could be lower than the 2.9% target.