However, the fluctuation of retail units was high, demonstrating the rapid transformation of the sector, KSH noted. During the quarter, some 6500 retail units closed down, while 6000 new units were opened.
By the end of March, there were a total of 165,762 retail stores in Hungary operated by 111,795 companies. The total combined area of these stores was 16.9 million sqm, a 15,000 sqm increase since the end of the previous year. The combined sales area and the average floor area of retail stores was 102 sqm.
In a breakdown by region, the number of retail units in Hungary's seven statistical regions remained largely unchanged over the base period, with shrinkages of 0.1-0.5% in everywhere but central Hungary. Of all retail outlets, 28.9% were located in the central Hungary region (Budapest and Pest County), while 19% were located within the city limits of Budapest. Other regions accounted for 10-15% each of retail stores.
