Retail trade turnover has been falling for a year now
According to Statistics Estonia, in August, the turnover of retail trade enterprises was 912 million euros. Compared with August 2022, turnover fell by 8% at constant prices.
Johanna Linda Pihlak, analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that retail trade turnover has been in decline for the past twelve months. The drop in turnover in August was most affected by stores selling manufactured goods, where turnover fell by 11% year on year. “Turnover was down in most sectors, except for pharmacies and stores selling cosmetics, in which turnover was up by 4% compared with the same time last year,” Pihlak added.
Among stores selling manufactured goods, turnover decreased the most, by 23%, in stores selling via mail order or the internet. The drop in turnover was above average also in other specialised stores selling predominantly computers and their accessories, books, sports equipment, games, toys, etc. (16%), and in stores selling second-hand goods and non-store retail sale (stalls, markets, and direct sale) (15%).
Compared with August 2022, turnover decreased by 4% in both grocery stores and enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel.
In August compared with July, the turnover of retail trade enterprises increased by 1%. According to the seasonally and working-day adjusted data, turnover remained at the previous month’s level.
In the first eight months of 2023, the turnover of retail trade enterprises fell by 9% compared with the same period last 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.
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 9184
press [at] stat.ee (press[at]stat[dot]ee)