Hungary’s calendar-adjusted retail sales grew by 2.2% y/y in May 2013, growing for the second consecutive month after 12 months of decline, the statistics office said, revising down the preliminary figure of 2.5%. In monthly terms, sales edged down by 0.2% in seasonal and calendar-adjusted terms, after rising by 1.8% in April.
The annual rise reflected an increase in both food and non-food trade, up by 0.9% y/y and 1.9% y/y, respectively. In addition, automotive fuel sales advanced by 5.5% y/y, growing for the second month in row.
Within the non-food category, the turnover in second hand stores increased by 10.2% y/y, retail trade of cosmetics advanced by 7.2% y/y. Sales of textiles, clothing, footwear increased by 2.7% y/y and sales of books, computer equipment was up by 1.4% on the year as well. By contrast, sales of pharmaceutical and medical goods as well as furniture and electrical goods declined by 3.7% y/y and 0.7% y/y, respectively. Mail orders retail trade remained the fastest growing segment (41.1% y/y), positively influenced by the strong expansion of online sales. However, the sector had a relatively low contribution to the overall index.
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