In March, turnover increased the most in stores selling manufactured goods

Johanna Linda Pihlak, analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that, in March, the increase in turnover in retail trade was primarily influenced by stores selling manufactured goods, where turnover grew by 33% year on year. “The rapid growth in the turnover of stores selling manufactured goods was related to the fact that shopping centres were closed in March last year due to Covid-related restrictions,” explained Pihlak.

Among stores selling manufactured goods, the biggest growth at 87% was recorded in the turnover of stores selling textiles, clothing and footwear. Turnover increased by 56% in other specialised stores selling predominantly computers and their accessories, books, sports equipment, games, toys, etc., by 55% in other non-specialised stores selling predominantly manufactured goods (department stores), by 43% in stores selling second-hand goods and in non-store retail sale (stalls, markets, direct sale), by 29% in stores selling household goods and appliances, hardware and building materials, and by 9% in pharmacies and stores selling cosmetics. In March 2021, there were significantly more purchases made from online stores, while in March this year the turnover of stores selling via mail order or the internet decreased by 13%.

Compared to March 2021, the turnover of grocery stores increased by 1% and the turnover of enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel by 22%.

In March, compared to February, the turnover of retail trade enterprises increased by 25%. According to the seasonally and working-day adjusted data, turnover rose by 7% compared to February. In the three months of 2022 (January to March), the turnover of retail trade enterprises increased by 10% compared to the same period of the previous year.

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.