Twelve-month retail sales volume has dropped every month since February 2007. It fell 7.5pc in October, 7.3pc in September and 7.2pc in August. In a month-on-month comparison, retail sales fell 0.7pc in December, according to seasonally- and calendar year-adjusted figures, slowing from a 0.8pc fall in November. In January-December, retail sales volume was down 5.2pc from the previous year. Retail sales – including sales of vehicle fuel, in line with revised European Union statistical classifications totalled HUF 753bn in December, at current prices, up from HUF 617.5bn in November. Retail sales came to HUF 7,279bn in January-December, down from HUF 7,558bn in 2008. Food sales fell 3.8pc in December from the same month a year earlier. They dropped 3.9pc in January-December. Non-food sales were down 12.7pc in December and fell 8.7pc in January-December. Fuel sales dipped 0.3pc in December, but full-year sales were practically level with those in 2008. Car and car parts sales, which are not included in retail sales data, plunged 44.3pc in December and were down 41.3pc in January-December.