In the initial ten months of 2012 the sales volume of food, beverages and tobacco products stagnated year-on-year in an unfavourable global economic climate. In the tenth month of the year, however, this retail sub sector registered a decline of 1.2 percent in comparison to the corresponding period of the previous year. This figure is much more favourable than September data calculated by the same methodology (then contraction amounted to 3.7 percent).

In October the 3.7 percent year-on-year decline of retail sales volume was primarily attributable to lower sales of furniture, electrical goods, books, computer equipment and automotive fuel.

Turnover in the domestic retail network and at mail order and internet sale services providers totalled 740bn HUF in October 2012 and 6724bn HUF in the initial ten months of the year.

Sales at stores of food, beverages and tobacco products, which constitute the 43.5 percent of total volume, declined by 1.2 percent year-on-year after decreasing 3.7 percent in the previous month, however, the volume of turnover regarding the initial ten months of the year is almost on a par with last year’s level.

Turnover at non-food stores was down by 5.3 percent in the tenth month of the year, which amounts to an aggregate decline of 2.6 percent for the initial ten months. Sales at mail order and internet sale services providers continued to increase dynamically, the sales volume of this sub sector was up by 24.2 percent in October compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, but turnover has also improved regarding stores of cosmetics articles (+3.6 percent), second-hand goods (+11 percent) and pharmaceutical and medical goods (+2.5 percent).

With regard to the initial ten months of the year the aforementioned sub sectors were the top performers (except for medicine), but sales at stores of textiles, clothing and footwear as well as non-specialized stores could also increase.

Turnover volume at filling stations was still below the figure recorded in the observed period of the previous year. In October sales declined by 5 percent and decreased 3.2 percent regarding the entire ten-month period.

According to currently available Eurostat data, in August retail sales volume decreased in 13 countries of the EU, while growth was registered in nine of them. Average decline in the euro-zone was 3.6 percent, whereas decrease averaged 2.4 percent in the EU 27. In the region relevant data were worse than Hungary’s in Slovenia, Poland and Bulgaria, but the decline amounted to 1.8 percent even in Slovakia which was a better performer. It has been negative news that in Germany (Hungary’s largest trade partner) the retail sector contracted by 3.8 percent.

(Ministry for National Economy)