Hungary’s retail sales grew at a weaker pace in October due to the slowdown in fuel and food retailing, the Hungarian Central Statistical Office said Thursday.
The trade surplus exceeded the initial estimate in September, another report from the statistical office revealed today.
Retail sales climbed 4.5 percent year-on-year in October, slower than the 5.1 percent increase registered in September. It was also smaller than a 4.6 percent rise forecast by economists.
Likewise, retail sales growth eased to 4 percent on an unadjusted basis, from 5.1 percent a month ago.
The volume of sales rose 2 percent in food, drinks and tobacco stores, and by 7.8 percent in non-food retail trade. Automotive fuel retailing advanced 3.4 percent.
In January to October, the volume of sales grew by adjusted 5.8 percent from the corresponding period of the previous year.
Final data for external trade showed that the trade surplus decreased by EUR 85 million from last year to EUR 855 million in September. However, it was above the initially estimated surplus of EUR 814 million.
Exports grew 6.6 percent and imports advanced 9.6 percent annually in September.
The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com