Retail trade volume fell by 4% in March
According to Statistics Estonia, in March 2024, the turnover of retail trade enterprises was 851 million euros. Compared with March 2023, the volume of retail trade turnover* fell by 4%.
Johanna Linda Pihlak, analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that the decline in the volume of retail trade turnover was mainly due to stores selling manufactured goods, as their turnover volume was 9% smaller than in March last year. “The volume of turnover decreased in all types of stores selling manufactured goods. The biggest decrease at 16% was registered in stores selling via mail order or the internet,” added Pihlak.
Among stores selling manufactured goods, the decrease in turnover volume was 14% in stores selling household goods and appliances, hardware and building materials, 9% in other non-specialised stores selling predominantly manufactured goods (department stores), and 8% in stores selling textiles, clothing and footwear. The volume of turnover fell by 4% in other specialised stores selling predominantly computers and their accessories, books, sports equipment, games, toys, etc., and also by 4% in stores selling second-hand goods and non-store retail sale (stalls, markets, and direct sale). In pharmacies and stores selling cosmetics, the volume of turnover decreased by 3%.
The turnover volume of enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel fell by 2% compared with March last year. The volume of turnover in grocery stores took a slight upturn and increased by 1%.
Compared with February this year, the volume of retail trade turnover grew by 15% in March. According to the seasonally and working-day adjusted data, turnover volume was up by 1% in comparison with the previous month.
In the first three months of 2024 (January–March), the volume of retail trade turnover decreased by 5% compared with the same period of the previous year.
* 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.
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 +372 625 9181
press [at] stat.ee