Turnover volume in retail trade grew by 2% last year

Johanna Linda Pihlak, analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that the biggest increase was registered in enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel, where turnover volume increased by 14% last year. “The volume of turnover was up by 4% in stores selling manufactured goods but decreased by 4% in grocery stores,” added Pihlak.

Pihlak explained that the increase in the turnover volume of enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel was influenced by the lower reference base of 2024 and by the lower prices of motor fuels. She noted that the turnover of enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel does not only include the sale of motor fuels but reflects total sales, including income from food service, for example, and provision of other goods and services. “The decline in the turnover volume of grocery stores was related to the rising prices of food products,” said Pihlak. 

In December, the downtrend in the turnover volume of grocery stores continued

In December last year, the turnover of retail trade enterprises was 1 billion euros and their turnover volume was at the same level as in December 2024. Year on year, the volume of turnover in December 2025 was up by 1% in stores selling manufactured goods and by 10% in enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel. “As for grocery stores, their turnover volume continued to decline in December and was down by 5% year on year,” said Pihlak.

The turnover volume of stores selling manufactured goods took an upturn in December, rising by 1% compared with December 2024. The biggest increase at 9% was registered in the turnover volume of other specialised stores selling predominantly computers and their accessories, books, sports equipment, games, toys, etc. The volume of turnover also increased by 2% in pharmacies and stores selling cosmetics. Among stores selling manufactured goods, the volume of turnover decreased by 6% in stores selling second-hand goods and non-store retail sale (stalls, markets, and direct sale), and by 5% in stores selling household goods and appliances, hardware and building materials. Turnover volume fell by 4% in stores selling via mail order or the internet, and also by 4% in other non-specialised stores selling predominantly manufactured goods (e.g. department stores). Compared with December 2024, the volume of turnover was down by 2% in stores selling textiles, clothing and footwear.

“Compared with November, the turnover volume of retail trade enterprises grew by 13% in December – this is a usual trend that is related to Christmas and year-end sales,” explained Pihlak. According to the seasonally and working-day adjusted data, turnover remained at the previous month’s level.

Retail trade data are published according to the main economic activity of enterprises registered in Estonia. For example, the data on stores selling via mail order or the internet cover only those enterprises whose main activity according to the Classification of Economic Activities in Estonia (EMTAK 2008) is retail sale via mail order houses or via internet (EMTAK 4791). If an enterprise’s main economic activity is, for example, retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating (EMTAK 4711), but the enterprise also sells goods through an online store, the turnover data of both the physical store and the online store are reported under grocery stores.

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.

Data as at 30 January 2026 are published. The indicator values may change if there are any revisions made in the data sources after this date.

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:

Susann Kivi
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 5696 6484
press [at] stat.ee (press[at]stat[dot]ee)

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