Retail trade volume has fallen for two years in a row

The turnover volume declined in stores selling manufactured goods and grocery stores, as well as in enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel.

Johanna Linda Pihlak, analyst at Statistics Estonia, pointed out that taking into account the data for August, the turnover volume of retail trade enterprises has been falling for 24 months in a row now. “The drop in the volume of retail trade turnover in August was mainly due to stores selling manufactured goods and grocery stores, as the turnover volume of each decreased by 4% year on year,” Pihlak added.

Among stores selling manufactured goods, the biggest decline at 12% was registered in the turnover volume of stores selling household goods and appliances, hardware and building materials. Turnover volume decreased by 6% in stores selling via mail order or the internet, by 5% in other non-specialised stores selling predominantly manufactured goods (department stores), and by 4% in stores selling textiles, clothing and footwear. The volume of turnover was up by 3% in other specialised stores selling predominantly computers and their accessories, books, sports equipment, games, toys, etc., and by 2% 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 remained at the previous year's level.

The turnover volume of enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel fell by 1% compared with August last year.

In comparison with this year’s July, the retail trade volume was down by 1% in August. According to the seasonally and working-day adjusted data, turnover remained at the previous month’s level.

In the first eight months of 2024, the turnover volume of retail trade enterprises decreased by 4% 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

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