Retail trade volume up by 3% in January

Johanna Linda Pihlak, analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that the turnover volume of retail trade enterprises was up by 1% in December year on year and grew even more in January. “The rise in retail trade volume in January was mainly due to stores selling manufactured goods, where turnover volume rose by 6% compared with January 2024,” explained Pihlak.

Among stores selling manufactured goods, turnover volume increased the most, by 15%, in stores selling via mail order or the internet. The volume of turnover was up by 11% in other specialised stores selling predominantly computers and their accessories, books, sports equipment, games, toys, etc., by 10% in stores selling second-hand goods and non-store retail sale (stalls, markets, and direct sale), and by 6% in pharmacies and stores selling cosmetics. The increase in turnover volume was 4% in stores selling household goods and appliances, hardware and building materials, and 1% in stores selling textiles, clothing and footwear. The volume of turnover decreased by 9% in other non-specialised stores selling predominantly manufactured goods (department stores).

In January, the turnover volume of enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel increased by 2% and the turnover volume of grocery stores remained at the same level, compared with January 2024.

Compared with December 2024, the turnover volume of retail trade enterprises decreased by 21% in January 2025. This was the usual decline that occurs after Christmas and year-end sales. According to the seasonally and working-day adjusted data, turnover volume was down by 1% from the previous month.

Turnover volume index – an index that expresses the change in the volume of sales of goods at constant prices compared with the sales in a previous period. Price indices of goods are used in the calculation of the turnover volume index.

The statistics are based on the VAT declaration data of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board. Statistics Estonia performs the statistical activity “Financial statistics of trade enterprises (monthly)” for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications in order to determine how the Estonian economy is doing. The data are published by the main economic activity of the enterprise.

See also the internal trade section on our website. More detailed data have been published in the statistical database.

When using Statistics Estonia’s data and graphs, please indicate the source.
 

For further information:

Heidi Kukk
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 5696 6484 
press [at] stat.ee

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