Hungary August retail sales lose momentum as monthly volumes fall

Hungary's retail sales growth decelerated in August, according to data released on Tuesday. While sales volumes increased by 2.4% year-on-year, they decreased by 0.7% month-over-month, with the change based on adjusted figures. The annual growth rate remained unchanged. Early-year retail sales growth had been stronger, but the momentum slowed in August.

Cumulative retail sales, however, remained significantly higher than a year ago, with a 4.3% increase in the first eight months of 2026. Food retail sales grew by just 0.5% year-on-year in adjusted terms, while non-food sales rose by 5.0% and automotive fuel sales increased by 3.1%. Within food retailing, non-specialized food and beverage stores saw a 1.9% increase, while specialized food, beverage and tobacco shops experienced a 4.8% decline.

Non-food retailing continued to expand, with pharmaceutical, medical goods and cosmetics stores growing by 5.4% year-on-year, and non-specialized stores selling manufactured goods increasing by 4.2%. Textile, clothing and footwear sales rose by 2.7%, while furniture and electrical goods sales grew by 1.0%. Book, computer equipment and other specialized stores saw a 0.6% increase.

However, second-hand goods stores saw a decline of 3.3% year-on-year. Online and mail-order retailing, which makes up 8.3% of total retail sales, recorded a stronger 12% increase. Motor vehicles and parts sales, excluded from the retail sales measure, rose by 8.0% year-on-year. In August, retail turnover totaled HUF 1,787 billion.

Food stores constituted 48% of total turnover, non-food retailers accounted for 36%, and fuel stations contributed 16%. For the first eight months of 2026, calendar-adjusted retail sales volumes were 4.3% higher than the same period in 2025. Food sales grew by 2.2%, while non-food sales rose by 5.6% and automotive fuel sales climbed by 7.5%.