Stable turnover growth in retail trade enterprises continued in August
According to Statistics Estonia, in August 2018, compared to August of the previous year, the turnover of retail trade enterprises increased by 2% at constant prices. Similarly to July, turnover showed a stable two-percent growth also in August compared to same month of the previous year.
In August 2018, the turnover of retail trade enterprises was 619.7 million euros.
The turnover of stores selling manufactured goods increased by 4% compared to August 2017. Turnover increased in five and decreased in two economic activities. Turnover increased the most in stores selling via mail order or the internet, with sales increasing 15% in a year. Turnover increased also in other non-specialised stores (e.g. department stores), selling predominantly manufactured goods (11% growth), in pharmacies and stores selling cosmetics (9% growth), in other specialised stores, such as stores selling predominantly computers and their accessories, books, sports equipment, games, toys, etc. (4% growth) and in stores selling household goods and appliances, hardware and building materials (2% growth). Compared to August of the previous year, turnover decreased in stores selling second-hand goods and in non-store retail sale (stalls, markets, direct sale) and in stores selling textiles, clothing and footwear.
The turnover of grocery stores increased by 1% compared to August 2017.
The turnover of enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel decreased by 4% compared to August of the previous year.
Compared to the previous month, in August, the turnover of retail trade enterprises decreased by 1%. According to seasonally and working-day adjusted data, however, turnover increased by 0.5% compared to the previous month. In the eight months of 2018 (January–August), the turnover of retail trade enterprises increased by 0.5% compared to the corresponding 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.