Internal trade

The performance of the Hungarian economy in the 1st quarter of 2025 was identical with the same period of the previous year’s level. Increasing performance in the service sector as well as the growth in consumption had a positive impact on the GDP. The continuing setback of the industry and construction, a subdued investment activity, the deterioration in the balance of the external trade counterbalanced this trend. Regarding the labour market, employment rate – considering the 1st quarters’ values – was the highest ever, while the unemployment rate lessened.

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In May 2025, the volume of retail trade in both raw and calendar-adjusted data was 2.1% higher than in the same month of the previous year. Compared to the same period of the previous year, calendar-adjusted sale volumes expanded by 0.5% in specialized and non-specialized food shops, by 4.0% in non-food retailing and fell by 1.1% in automotive fuel retailing. According to seasonally and calendar adjusted data, the volume of retail sales was 1.3% down on the previous month. In January–May 2025, the volume of sales – also according to calendar adjusted data – was 3.1% higher than in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Hungary’s GDP increased by 0.5% amid global challenges in 2024. The performance of goods-producing industries lessened, while that of service-providing ones rose, which shows the duality of economic trends. Household consumption picked up, which was considerably encouraged by the purchasing power of earnings growing again with the inflationary wave calming down. Besides, the data series reveal that the level of employment reached another peak.

The tables and charts in the latest edition of the Statistical Pocketbook of Hungary provide a comprehensive insight into the development of social and economic trends in Hungary during the year 2024. It aims to provide a summary picture of the country's situation in all possible areas based on preliminary indicators. Within the number of employees, this year's pocketbook also includes employed persons working less than 60 hours, and the gross revenues at tourist accommodation establishments.

In 2024, the calendar-adjusted volume of retail trade in Hungary was 2.6% up on the previous year: the volume of sales rose by 3.8% in specialized and non-specialized food shops, and by 2.5% in non-food retailing, while they fell by 0.8% in automotive fuel retailing. The number of retail stores at the end of June 2024 was 7.0% lower, or 7,000 fewer than a year earlier. The average floor area of shops increased by 4.7% over this period.

Based on international trends, the popularity of purchases on the internet rapidly increases in Hungary as well, more and more people recognise its advantages and take advantage of this. 56% of households placed an order on-line in the 4th quarter of 2024, and they spent an average 84.7 thousand forints in making purchases on the internet. E-buyers most often purchased articles of clothing and shoes (64%), which was followed by electrical goods (48%), the administration of overheads payments, and of various finances (42%), as well as the order of household equipment (31%).

The yearbook provides an overview of Hungary's demographic, social and economic processes, environmental characteristics and their changes over time, with the help of tens of thousands of data of 500 tables, graphs and maps. Innovatively, the Tourism, catering chapter in the volume includes the gross receipts of tourist accommodation establishments by type of accommodation. Another change is that this year the Regional data chapter already presents territorial data by tourism area, giving greater emphasis to tourist destinations.

Geopolitical tensions continued to overshadow economic developments in 2023, with the gross domestic product falling by 0.9%. Inflationary pressures gradually eased, but the 17.6% annual increase in consumer prices led to a decline in real earnings and consumption, and negatively affected investment decisions. Despite the economic difficulties, employment has reached a record high. In 2023, the number of deaths and births continued to fall, in addition to the decrease in the number of women of childbearing age.