Retail sales in Hungary were up 4.5% in year-on-year terms in December and 5% for the full year, the highest annual growth since 2004, the Central Statistical Office reported.
The sale of big-ticket items grow the fastest in 2015, rising 7.6% from the previous year, while fuel sales rose 7.1%. Food sales increased 3.4% year-on-year in December and the same pace for the full year. Online sales continued to grow robustly, up more than 20%. The retail sector has been assisted by record-high employment growth and sizable real wage growth, commented deputy state secretary, Ákos Márk Lenner. Analysts expect the positve trends to prevail this year, albeit growth will be smaller, around 3-4%, they added.
