In April, the turnover of retail trade enterprises increased

The turnover of stores selling manufactured goods increased by 7% compared to April 2017. Turnover increased in most economic activities, except in stores selling second-hand goods and in non-store retail sale (stalls, markets, direct sale), where turnover was smaller than in April 2017. Turnover increased the most in pharmacies and stores selling cosmetics, where sales increased 13% year on year. A higher than average increase in turnover occurred also in stores selling household goods and appliances, hardware and building materials (11% growth) and in stores selling textiles, clothing and footwear (8% growth).

The turnover of grocery stores decreased by 4% compared to April 2017. The turnover fall of these stores is associated with the high reference base of April of the previous year and the continuing price increase of food products.

The turnover of enterprises engaged in retail sales of automotive fuel, which increased in February and March, started falling in April, decreasing 4% compared to April of the previous year. A contributing factor was acceleration in the price increase of automotive fuel.

Compared to the previous month, in April, the turnover of retail trade enterprises decreased by 1%. According to the seasonally and working-day adjusted data, the decrease was 2%. In the four months of 2018 (January–April), the turnover of retail trade enterprises increased by 1% on 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 published the monthly summary in four working days. For the statistical activity “Economic indicators of trade enterprises”, the main representative of public interest is the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, commissioned by whom Statistics Estonia performs this statistical activity.