The average Hungarian works for 1,100 EUR

Retail sales in Hungary rose by an annual 2.5 percent in July, or 3.0 percent when adjusted for calendar year effects, preliminary data released by the Central Statistical Office (KSH) on Friday show.

The increase slowed from 6.2 percent in the previous month. Retail sales have risen for four consecutive months after eight months of decline, KSH said. Adjusted food sales increased by 3.7 percent and non-food sales were up by 2.6 percent. Vehicle fuel sales rose by 1.9 percent.

For the period January-July, retail sales rose by an annual 2.1 percent according to both unadjusted and calendar-year adjusted data. Adjusted food sales were up 1.8 percent, non-food sales rose by 3.0 percent and vehicle fuel sales increased by 2.8 percent.

Commenting on the data, a government official said the Hungarian retail sector is starting to recover from pandemic-related lockdowns. Péter Cseresnyés, a state secretary of the innovation and technology ministry, said that government measures resulting in 4.7 million jobholders,

wages averaging above 400,000 forints (EUR 1,100)

and higher minimum wages left money with Hungarians to spend on themselves. Barring another strong wave of the pandemic, the current moderate growth is expected to reach pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year, he said. Growing vaccine acceptance is key to that process too, he added.

ING Bank chief analyst Péter Virovácz said the modest rise in retail sales could be attributed to households’ preference to spend on services during the summer months. ING is standing by its

projection for full-year GDP growth of 7.7 percent,

he added.

Takarekbank senior analyst Gergely Suppán also said consumers likely spent more on recreation during the month, but added that “dynamic” wage growth and a growth-linked year-end pensioners premium could boost retail turnover. He put full-year retail sales growth around 3 percent.

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Source: MTI