The Central Statistical Office (KSH) said retail sales in Hungary rose by an annual 6.2 percent in December, when adjusted for calendar year effects.
According to unadjusted data, retail sales rose by 6.7 percent, picking up from 3.8 percent in the previous month. Adjusted food sales increased by 2.7 percent and non-food sales were up 8.7 percent. Vehicle fuel sales climbed by 11.5 percent. In absolute terms, retail sales came to HUF 1,466 billion (EUR 4.1bn) in December, at current prices, and HUF 14,085 billion for the full year. For the full year, food sales were up 2.2 percent, non-food sales rose by 4.9 percent and vehicle fuel sales increased by 4.9 percent.
Commenting on the data, Péter Cseresnyés, state secretary of trade policy at the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (ITM), said retail sales growth in December had reached pre-pandemic levels. Retail sales growth reached or exceeded 6 percent in six months last year, Cseresnyés said on Facebook. He said the government had introduced a number of measures aimed at boosting the purchasing power of households this year, citing the 13th month pension, family tax rebates and personal income tax exemptions for those under 25 as examples.
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