Hungary

The trend in cat food in Hungary of offering variations for picky cats is becoming more prominent, especially with the increasing ownership of cats, which has reached over one third of Hungarian households. As the cat population is growing…

Regular cola carbonates, as a product area, experienced a more moderate decline in sales volume than non-cola carbonates in 2023, despite significant price increases. This can be attributed to the enduring popularity of cola flavour among consumers…

At the start of 2023, operators of cafés/bars were in an upbeat mood as 2022 had delivered relatively good results despite soaring energy prices and costs. The prolonged high levels of inflation and diminishing consumer purchasing power proved…

The increased price of baked goods and pastries, combined with the popularity of chef shows on TV and social media, has driven the popularity of baking at home. This is increasing retail volume sales of margarine and the moderate retail volume…

High investment and financial freedoms, a low tax burden, a good geographical location, and increasing potential for innovations have contributed to a favourable business environment in Hungary. However, the country’s government spending and fiscal…

Like other companies across packaged food in Hungary, breakfast cereals manufacturers have adjusted their packaging strategies in 2023 in an effort to better navigate soaring inflation and the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. Most notably,…

The sales volume of both carbonated and still bottled water experienced a significant decline in 2023. This trend can be attributed to two primary factors. Firstly, notable price increases for bottled water forced consumers to re-evaluate their…

Hungarians traditionally pay close attention to foreign exchange rates when planning trips abroad, particularly summer holidays, as fluctuations can cause travel expenses to increase significantly in a short period of time. This was the case…

While retail value sales were double-digit in 2023, bleach recorded a retail volume decline for the third consecutive year. Sales increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, with consumers having a heightened interest in hygiene. Bleach was recommended…

Beer saw volume sales fall significantly in Hungary in 2023. Brewers held high expectations of restoring volume sales back to pre-pandemic levels during the year. However, these efforts fell short, and the beer market experienced a decline at the…

Hungary's beauty and personal care market witnessed several notable trends in 2023 with these reflecting evolving consumer preferences and demographic shifts. First, the ageing population played a significant role, driving demand for specialised…

High inflation and declining purchasing power significantly influenced consumer purchasing decisions when it came to bath and shower products in 2023. The discounted pricing strategies of retailers such as Lidl and Aldi proved successful with these…

With inflation in Hungary remaining the highest in the EU, unit prices for packaged and unpackaged leavened bread have continued to rise at double-digit rates in 2023 despite a reduction in grain prices on international commodity markets.…

From October 2022, the government cut national support for milk formulas from 50% to 25%. This resulted in two-three times higher prices, with standard and special milk formulas having seen a rapid price increase during 2023. Many mothers still buy…

In 2023, prices of baby and child-specific products inevitably saw a significant price hike from manufacturers and retailers alike as Hungary continued to suffer from elevated inflation. As disposable income was squeezed a significant number of…

In 2023, away-from-home (AFH) tissue and hygiene recorded double-digit retail value growth in Hungary, boosted by rising price points. However, while retail volume growth was slower than the previous year, it remained positive in most areas, with…

Inflationary pressures supported value sales for appliances and electronics specialists in Hungary in 2023, due to the resulting increases in unit prices. Indeed, retailers and manufacturers alike have been facing increased operational costs, rising…

Apparel and footwear specialists is another channel which was seeing strong value growth in Hungary in 2023. Indeed, this trend continues from 2022, which also saw double-digit value growth, as the channel bounced back from the pandemic restrictions…

The wave of inflation that swept across Europe in the wake of the Russian Federation’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine continued into 2023, with Hungary witnessing the highest core inflation of all European countries during the year after…

2023 saw dips in demand for scarves, hats, gloves and similar items of winter apparel as several factors undermined the willingness of consumers to spend money on such items. The most important influence on waning demand for warm scarves, hats and…

As consumption patterns continue to stabilise following three years of pandemic-induced disruption, the majority of analgesics categories in Hungary are projected to contract in volume terms in 2023. Rates of decline in most look set to be modest,…

A combination of forces shaped the market for alcoholic drinks in Hungary in 2023. People were happy to break free from any COVID-19 related restrictions and live their social lives as they used to be. This was paralleled by the large pent-up demand…

The low cost carriers category looks set to record faster growth in current value sales than its full service counterpart in Hungary in 2023. This is partly because due to their focus on offering more affordable fares, leading low cost operators such…

In 2023, retail volume sales of air treatment products fell in Hungary, recording a decline. The country's most popular air conditioner type, split air conditioners, saw significant double-digit growth in 2022, with sales bolstered by the support of…

While retail value sales were double-digit, retail volume sales declined in areas such as gel air freshers, car air fresheners and spray/aerosol air fresheners. Sales were negatively impacted by rising inflation and reduced consumer spending power.…