Retail sales rose 3.6pc when adjusted for calendar year effects, including the impact of the Easter holiday.

Adjusted food sales increased 3.4pc, non-food sales rose 2.6pc and turnover at petrol stations climbed 9.1pc.

Online and mail-order sales volume, which accounted for 8.6pc of retail turnover, increased 2.7pc.

In a month-on-month comparison, retail sales slipped 1.2pc, adjusted for seasonal and calendar year effects.

In absolute terms, retail sales came to HUF 1,742bn in April. Food sales accounted for 48pc of the total, non-food sales for 36pc and sales at petrol stations for 16pc.

In January-April, retail sales rose an adjusted and unadjusted 4.8pc from the same period a year earlier. Food sales increased an adjusted 2.4pc, non-food sales rose 5.2pc and motor fuel sales were up 10.6pc.

In a comment on the fresh data, Tamas Kozak, the chief secretary of the National Commerce Association (OKSZ), said growth had returned to a modest path after a sharp rise in March, on the back of pre-election income transfers.

ING Bank chief analyst Peter Virovacz said the fresh data were a "negative surprise", a "correction" following the pickup in March, but "no reason for serious concern".

Erste Bank senior analyst Orsolya Nyeste noted a 5.5pc drop in sales of motor fuel in April compared to March, when drivers topped up their tanks with the rollout of caps on petrol and diesel prices.

Photo: Pixabay.com

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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