According to the raw data, the volume of sales in retail trade increased by 1.7% in June 2024 compared to the previous year. When adjusted for calendar effects, the increase is more pronounced at the aforementioned 2.6% rate. This growth is seen across various retail sectors.

Sales in specialized and non-specialized food shops grew by 3.2% year-on-year. Non-specialized food and beverage shops, which account for 75% of food retailing, saw a 4.1% increase, while specialized food, beverage, and tobacco stores experienced a marginal growth of 0.4%.

There was an overall increase of 3.6% in non-food retailing. Sales volumes rose significantly in pharmaceutical, medical goods, and cosmetics shops by 7.3%, in furniture and electrical goods stores by 2.9%, and in textiles, clothing, and footwear shops by 1.4%. However, sales volumes decreased by 3.5% in books, computer equipment, and other specialized stores, by 4.7% in non-specialized shops dealing in manufactured goods, and by 5.2% in second-hand goods shops.

The volume of mail order and internet retailing, which accounts for 7.9% of all retail sales and involves a wide range of goods, rose by 14%.

The volume of sales in automotive fuel stations increased by 0.5%, while sales in motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts and accessories stores, not included in the retail data, increased by 18%.

Retail Sales Exceed HUF 1.6 tln Mark

In June 2024, domestic retail sales amounted to HUF 1.611 trillion at current prices. Of the national retail turnover, 49% was generated in specialized and non-specialized food shops, 35% in non-food retail trade, and 16% in automotive fuel stations.

For the period of January to June 2024, the volume of retail trade rose by 2.7% compared to the same period of the previous year, adjusted for calendar effects. The volume of sales rose by 3.8% in specialized and non-specialized food shops, by 1.4% in non-food retail trade, and by 2.1% in automotive fuel retail trade, according to the report.