Retail trade volume down by 4% in May
According to Statistics Estonia, in May 2024, the turnover of retail trade enterprises was 898 million euros. Compared with May 2023, the volume of retail trade turnover fell by 4%.
Johanna Linda Pihlak, analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that the decline in the volume of retail trade turnover in May was most affected by stores selling manufactured goods, as their turnover volume decreased by 8% year on year. “The volume of turnover was down in almost all stores selling manufactured goods, except for pharmacies and stores selling cosmetics where turnover volume remained at last year’s level,” added Pihlak.
Among stores selling manufactured goods, the biggest decline at 15% was registered in the turnover volume of stores selling household goods and appliances, hardware and building materials. Turnover volume decreased by 12% in stores selling via mail order or the internet, by 7% in stores selling second-hand goods and non-store retail sale (stalls, markets, and direct sale), and by 4% in stores selling textiles, clothing and footwear. The volume of turnover fell by 3% in other specialised stores selling predominantly computers and their accessories, books, sports equipment, games, toys, etc., and also by 3% in other non-specialised stores selling predominantly manufactured goods (department stores).
Compared with May 2023, the volume of turnover decreased by 2% in grocery stores but increased by 1% in enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel.
In comparison with April, the volume of retail trade turnover grew by 7% in May. According to the seasonally and working-day adjusted data, turnover volume was down by 1% from the previous month.
In the first five months of 2024, the turnover volume of retail trade enterprises decreased by 4% compared with the same period of the previous year.
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 +372 625 9181
press [at] stat.ee