In November, the increase in retail sales was mostly influenced by the grocery stores

News
Posted on 30 December 2011, 10:00
According to Statistics Estonia, in November 2011 compared to November of the previous year the retail sales of goods of retail trade enterprises increased 3% at constant prices. Since February compared to the same month of the previous year, the retail sales have shown a stable growth.

In November, the retail sales of goods of retail trade enterprises were 319.5 million euros. The increase in retail sales of goods was mostly influenced by grocery stores, where the retail sales increased 4% compared to November 2010. The growth in retail sales of grocery stores was partly influenced by deceleration in the price increase of food products. If the food products’ annual price increase was 9.3% in September and 6% in October, then in November the annual price increase was 4.3%. Due to a large share, grocery stores covered about half of the total increase of the sales of the retail trade enterprises.

The retail sales growth rate in stores selling manufactured goods slowed down significantly compared to the previous months. If during the last two months, the retail sales of those enterprises increased 6–7% during the year, then in November the growth was only 1%. One of the reasons for the growth rate’s slowdown in stores selling manufactured goods was the high reference base in November of the previous year.

Compared to the previous month, in November the retail sales in retail trade enterprises decreased 5% at constant prices. According to the seasonally and working-day adjusted data the retail sales stayed at the same level compared to the previous month. During the eleven months of 2011 (January-November), the retail sales in retail trade enterprises increased 4% at constant prices compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

In November the revenues from sales of retail trade enterprises were 400 million euros, out of which the retail sales of goods accounted for 80%. Compared to November of 2010, the revenues from sales increased 9% at current prices. Compared to the previous month, this indicator decreased 3%.

Retail sales volume index of retail trade enterprises and its trend, January 2002 – November 2011 (2005 = 100)

Diagram: Retail sales volume index of retail trade enterprises and its trend