Retail sales rose at the same pace adjusted for calendar year effects.

Adjusted food sales increased 2.2pc, non-food sales climbed 5.0pc and turnover at petrol stations rose 6.4pc.

Online and mail-order sales volume, which accounted for 9.1pc of retail turnover, rose 8.9pc.

In a month-on-month comparison, retail sales inched up 0.4pc, adjusted for seasonal and calendar year effects.

In absolute terms, retail sales came to HUF 1,484bn in February. Food sales accounted for 49pc of the total, non-food sales for 36pc and sales at petrol stations for 14pc.

In January-February, retail sales rose an unadjusted 3.4pc and an adjusted 3.6pc. Food sales increased an adjusted 1.7pc, non-food sales rose 4.9pc and motor fuel sales were up 6.1pc.

Full report available here

Hungary CPI rises to 1.8pc in March

Hungary's annualised consumer price index rose to 1.8pc in March from 1.4pc in the previous month, data released by the Central Statistics Office (KSH) on Wednesday show.

Food prices were flat, but fell 3.2pc excluding the price of eating out. Margarine prices dropped 24.9pc, the price of milk declined 13.1pc and flour prices were down 13.4pc.

Household energy prices rose 4.3pc as piped gas prices climbed 7.9pc and electricity prices increased 2.4pc.

Consumer durable prices rose 2.7pc.

Motor fuel prices fell 3.0pc.

The government rolled out petrol and diesel price caps for Hungarian motorists on March 10.

Prices of spirits and tobacco products increased 5.5pc and clothing prices rose 1.4pc. Service prices were up 4.1pc.

CPI adjusted for better comparison with other European Union member states was 2.1pc.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile fuel and food prices, was 1.9pc.

The CPI calculated with a basket of goods and services used by pensioners was 1.6pc.

In a month-on-month comparison, consumer prices edged up 0.4pc. Food prices, excluding the price of eating out, fell 0.6pc. Service prices inched up 0.2pc, household energy prices were flat and motor fuel prices rose 4.6pc.

In a comment on the fresh data, the National Economy Ministry highlighted the impact on headline inflation of mandatory caps on markups for a range of food and non-food products as well as voluntary price restrictions by banks, insurers, telcos and pharmaceutical companies. The ministry also noted the HUF 595/liter and HUF 615/liter caps on petrol and diesel prices, respectively.

MTI Stock Photo

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.

Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.

XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

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