Retail trade volume increased for the third consecutive month

Johanna Linda Pihlak, analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that, compared with February last year, turnover volume grew by 21% in enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel and by 6% in stores selling manufactured goods. “In grocery stores, the volume of turnover declined by 5% in February year on year,” added Pihlak.

Among stores selling manufactured goods, the biggest increase at 28% was registered in the turnover volume of other specialised stores selling predominantly computers and their accessories, books, sports equipment, games, toys, etc. The volume of turnover was up by 10% in stores selling second-hand goods and non-store retail sale (stalls, markets, and direct sale), and by 4% in pharmacies and stores selling cosmetics. Turnover volume fell by 10% in other non-specialised stores selling predominantly manufactured goods (e.g. department stores), by 8% in stores selling textiles, clothing and footwear, and by 7% in stores selling via mail order or the internet. Compared with February 2024, the volume of turnover was unchanged in stores selling household goods and appliances, hardware and building materials.

Compared with January this year, the turnover volume of retail trade enterprises was down by 3% in February. According to the seasonally and working-day adjusted data, turnover volume was up by 2% in comparison with the previous month.

Retail trade data are published according to the main economic activity of the enterprise. For example, the data on stores selling via mail order or the internet cover only those enterprises whose main activity according to the Classification of Economic Activities in Estonia (EMTAK 2008) is retail sale via mail order houses or via internet (EMTAK 4791). If an enterprise’s main economic activity is, for example, retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating (EMTAK 4711), but the enterprise also sells goods through an online store, the turnover data of both the physical store and the online store are reported under grocery stores.

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 5696 6484 
press [at] stat.ee

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