According to the Central Statistical Office (KSH), this follows a 2% increase on a monthly basis, indicating ongoing recovery in consumer activity.
In raw terms, April retail turnover was 6.8% higher year-on-year. Calendar-adjusted data show broad-based growth: food retail increased by 3.7%, non-food sales were up 4%, and fuel trade rose by 2.4%.
Sales volumes in non-specialized food shops, which represent 76% of food retail, grew by 4.1%, while specialized food, beverage, and tobacco outlets saw a more modest 1.6% rise.
The non-food segment posted mixed results. Strong growth was seen in non-specialized stores selling manufactured goods (+8.3%), pharmaceutical and cosmetics shops (+7.2%), and stores selling books, computer products, and other specialized items (+3.9%). Furniture and electrical goods retailers also saw a 2.9% increase. However, sales fell in textile, clothing, and footwear shops (–1.0%) and in second-hand stores (–0.4%).
Online and mail-order retailing—accounting for 8.4% of total turnover—grew by 9.1%.
Fuel sales rose 2.4% in April, while sales in motor vehicle and vehicle parts stores, which are not counted as retail trade, were up 1.5%.
Total domestic retail sales in April amounted to HUF 1.703 trillion at current prices. Food retail accounted for half of all turnover, non-food trade for 35%, and fuel for 15%.
For the first four months of 2025, calendar-adjusted retail sales volume rose by 3.4% year-on-year. Growth was observed across all segments: food (+3.3%), non-food (+5.1%), and fuel (+1.2%).
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