Retail trade turnover has been falling for 18 months
According to Statistics Estonia, in February 2024, the turnover of retail trade enterprises was 739 million euros. Compared with February 2023, turnover fell by 3% at constant prices.
Johanna Linda Pihlak, analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that retail trade turnover has been in a continuous decline for the past year and a half. “Compared with last February, turnover was down by 8% in stores selling manufactured goods and by 2% in grocery stores. However, the growth in the turnover of enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel continued, with turnover rising by 9% compared with February of the previous year,” Pihlak added.
Among stores selling manufactured goods, turnover decreased the most, by 17%, in stores selling household goods and appliances, hardware and building materials. Turnover declined by 14% in stores selling via mail order or the internet, by 5% in stores selling textiles, clothing and footwear, and by 4% in other non-specialised stores selling predominantly manufactured goods (department stores). A drop in turnover was also seen in stores selling second-hand goods and non-store retail sale, i.e. stalls, markets and direct sale (4%), and in other specialised stores selling predominantly computers and their accessories, books, sports equipment, games, toys, etc. (4%). Turnover increased by 5% in pharmacies and stores selling cosmetics.
Compared with this year’s January, the turnover of retail trade enterprises was down by 4% in February. According to the seasonally and working-day adjusted data, turnover was up by 1% in comparison with the previous month.
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:
Kai Kaljumäe
Communications Partner
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 625 9181
press [at] stat.ee (press[at]stat[dot]ee)