Retail trade turnover down by 7% in September

News
Posted on 31 October 2023, 8:00

According to Statistics Estonia, in September, the turnover of retail trade enterprises was 869 million euros. Compared with September 2022, turnover decreased by 7% at constant prices.

Johanna Linda Pihlak, analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that the decline in retail trade turnover was mainly due to stores selling manufactured goods, as their turnover was a tenth smaller than in September last year. “Year on year, turnover fell in all types of stores selling manufactured goods. Turnover decreased the most – by a fifth – in stores selling via mail order or the internet,” added Pihlak.

Among stores selling manufactured goods, the decrease in turnover was 14% in stores selling textiles, clothing and footwear, 14% in other non-specialised stores selling predominantly manufactured goods (department stores), 12% in stores selling household goods and appliances, hardware and building materials, 5% in stores selling second-hand goods and non-store retail sale (stalls, markets, and direct sale), 4% in other specialised stores selling predominantly computers and their accessories, books, sports equipment, games, toys, etc., and 1% in pharmacies and stores selling cosmetics.

Compared with September 2022, the turnover of grocery stores decreased by 2%. The turnover of enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel fell by 5%.

In September compared with August, the turnover of retail trade enterprises decreased by 5%. According to the seasonally and working-day adjusted data, retail trade turnover was the same as in the previous month.

In the first nine months of 2023, the turnover of retail trade enterprises fell by 9% compared with the same period of the previous year.

Turnover volume index of retail trade enterprises and its trend, January 2013 – September 2023 (2015 = 100)

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:

Helen Maria Raadik
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 625 9181
press [at] stat.ee

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