Retail sales little changed in spite of Sunday shopping restrictions

Budapest, May 27 (MTI) – Retail sales in Hungary were little changed in March and April, in spite of the introduction of rules that require big stores to close on Sunday, daily Nepszabadsag said on Wednesday.

Weekly retail turnover averaged around 150 billion forints (EUR 487m) in March and April, the paper said, citing data from the National Tax and Customs Authority (NAV), about level with the 145-150 billion in January and February.

Rules prohibiting stores over 200sqm from opening on most Sundays came into force from the middle of March.

The paper said retail turnover earlier seen on Sundays had shifted to Thursdays and Fridays.

The Central Statistics Office (KSH) will publish a second reading of March retail sales data later Wednesday. Preliminary data on April retail sales are due out June 5.

Photo: konyvtar.elte.hu

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters