Hungarian consumer credit shows diverging trends in retail and mortgage loans

In Hungary, consumer credit trends show a divergence between retail loans and other forms of debt. During the first seven months of 2026, demand for retail loans (áruhitelt) decreased, with new contracts totaling 20.1 billion forints—a 3% decline compared to the previous year. The number of new retail loan contracts also fell by 9.4%, totaling 72,000. Experts suggest that the rise in easily accessible online personal loans may be drawing customers away from traditional retail financing.

Conversely, overall household indebtedness is increasing as average loan amounts rise. Mortgage loans saw a significant jump, with the average contract value increasing by 39% from 19.7 million to approximately 27.4 million forints. This rise is partly attributed to the Otthon Start state-supported loan program. Additionally, personal loans have seen a 15% increase in average value, reaching 3.6 million forints per contract. This growth is supported by rising real wages and interest rates that have stabilized below 10% for many providers.