The retail sales in December were smaller than a year ago

In December, the retail sales of goods of retail trade enterprises were 5.2 billion kroons. Compared to December 2007, the retail sales of goods decreased in most economic activities. The decrease in the retail sales of goods was most influenced by the stores selling manufactured goods, where the retail sales of goods decreased 15% compared to the same month of the previous year. The retail sales in stores selling textiles, clothing and footwear and also the stores selling household goods and appliances, hardware and building materials decreased the most. Only stores selling pharmaceutical goods and cosmetics, the retail sales of which increased 12% during the year, could attain the growth in retail sales compared to the same month of the previous year. The growth in retail sales of pharmaceutical goods was caused by the increase of the value added tax of medicines since 2009.

The price increase of food products that slowed down during the last months of 2008 has not brought along the increase of sales volume in stores selling foodstuffs. The retail sales in stores selling food decreased 4% compared to the previous year. The consumers were still price sensitive and limited their daily expenditures.

In December compared to November, the retail sales in retail trade enterprises increased by a fifth at constant prices. This is a characteristic rise of December, when Christmas marketing is taking place.

In December the revenue from sales of retail trade enterprises was 5.9 billion kroons, out of which retail sales of goods accounted for about 90%. Compared to December 2007, the revenue from sales decreased 7% at current prices. Compared to November 2008, this indicator increased 16%.

According to the preliminary data the retail sales of retail trade enterprises were 55.6 billion kroons in 2008, compared to 2007 the retail sales decreased 4% at constant prices.

Retail sales volume index of retail trade enterprises and its trend,
January 2000 – December 2008 (the corresponding month of the previous year =100)