Hungary

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 Budapest in Hungary report provides comprehensive city level information benchmarked against other cities in the country and region. The report includes historic data and forecasts on city population, consumer expenditure, digital penetration,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Only commercial charge cards are available in Hungary in 2023, with personal charge cards no longer available. Moreover, commercial charge cards are only offered to top corporate executives and senior managers and there are no indications that this…

Following high double-digit price growth in 2022, the slight price decrease in 2023 positively influenced the retail volume growth of this market. However, cheese remains a product that is considered a non-basic food item by many, and as such, it is…

The high inflation that prevailed in Hungary during 2022 and during 2023 led many consumers to make changes to their consumer habits in an effort to save money. This contributed to the significant shift towards more budget-friendly options that was…

Retail volume sales of sales of chocolate confectionery will see modest growth in 2024, following the flat performance of the previous year. Demand continues to be hampered by rising prices, driven by the mounting costs of cocoa, sugar, and other…

Cider/perry saw a rise in total volume sales in Hungary in 2023. Cider, a relatively new category in the Hungarian alcoholic drinks market, remains a small segment compared to beer, but is growing, in contrast to alcoholic flavoured/mixed lagers,…

Tobacco in Hungary saw a decline in volume terms overall in 2023, attributed to several and various factors. Despite price hikes that remained below the annual inflation rate, the market's largest segments struggled to stem the fall. Volume sales of…

Cigars, cigarillos and smoking tobacco in Hungary saw overall category volume sales fall in 2023. Volume sales of smoking tobacco continued to drop, exacerbated by a more challenging household economic situation. With lower disposable incomes and…

The Hungarian coffee industry faced headwinds in 2023 due to deteriorating economic conditions and rising prices. Consumers became more price-sensitive, opting for cheaper private label coffee products or even reducing their overall coffee…

The trend of achieving a healthy natural glow is reshaping the colour cosmetics market in Hungary, with a focus on perfecting the skin's texture and hydration rather than heavy use of make-up. Social media influencers, ‘skinfluencers’ and celebrities…

The commodities country overview provides comprehensive data on production, consumption and price trends on key commodities markets. The commodities overview in Hungary covers production and consumption trends in agricultural commodities, energy…

Volume sales of computers were impacted by several negative factors in 2023, including high maturity. Also, the surge in volume sales during the pandemic as people hurriedly tried to set up home offices meant that computers bought during that period…

Liquid concentrates demonstrated remarkable resilience amidst the inflationary pressures that affected other soft drinks. This can be attributed to their perceived affordability during the economically challenging period, leading consumers to shift…

Consumer appliances in Hungary recorded a retail volume decline in 2023, negatively impacted by rising inflation and reduced consumer spending power. With lower disposable incomes, many consumers focused on essential, necessary spending, with those…

As inflation continues to rise, an increasing number of households find themselves in a financially precarious situation at the end of the month or salary payment periods. The impact of inflation bites into monthly budgets, leading to higher expenses…

High inflation affected volume sales of consumer electronics in Hungary in 2023. While strong value growth was recorded, overall volume sales were flat, with a weaker performance in the first half of the year. Strong demand for consumer electronics…

The year 2023 marked the first complete year without any significant COVID-19 restrictions or social constraints. Locals compensated for the long absence of social gatherings, entertainment and events by spending more time outside of the house. This…

The high rate of inflation remained a topic of great concern to consumers and business owners in 2023, with Hungary recording one of the highest rates seen in the EU. Consumer foodservice outlets have been challenged with managing higher expenses for…

While consumer health in Hungary is set to post robust growth in total current value sales in 2023, this is primarily due to inflationary pressures fuelled by the global recovery from the pandemic, the fallout of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the…

The initial optimism of early 2022 was abruptly dampened by the end of the year, and this has persisted throughout 2023. The sharp rise in borrowing costs coupled with a decline in disposable incomes due to high inflation has compelled Hungarians to…

Convenience stores continued to be affected by price hikes in Hungary in 2023. Whilst inflationary pressures have had effects across retail, we see some specific spikes and falls.

Retail sales of cooking ingredients and meals in Hungary registered buoyant growth in current value terms in 2023. However, this was due to massive inflationary pressures, rather than any huge upturn in demand. With Hungary having been added to the…

Most cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies categories in Hungary are set to expand in volume terms in 2023 or record slower rates of decline than in 2022. Similar to the case with analgesics, the need for these products has been bolstered by…

The loan repayment moratorium for vulnerable borrowers, including credit card owners, to cope with the negative economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic was extended to the end of 2022, but was not renewed in 2023. Meanwhile, high interest…

With inflation at over 25% in the first quarter of 2023, Hungary experienced the 10th-highest food-related price increase in the world. The high unit price in dairy products and alternatives was bolstered by the international price increase of raw…