Volume of retail trade turnover up by 4% in September

Johanna Linda Pihlak, analyst at Statistics Estonia, pointed out that the turnover volume of retail trade enterprises, which declined in August, returned to growth in September. “The increase in retail trade volume was mainly driven by enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel and also by stores selling manufactured goods. The turnover volume of grocery stores, however, continued to decline in September, falling by 5% compared with September 2024,” Pihlak explained.

The volume of turnover in enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel rose by 22% in September year on year. “The increase in the turnover volume of these enterprises was influenced by the lower reference base of September last year and by the drop in motor fuel prices,” noted Pihlak.

The turnover volume of stores selling manufactured goods began to grow again in September, rising by 6% compared with September 2024. Among stores selling manufactured goods, the biggest increase at 29% 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 was up by 8% in stores selling second-hand goods and non-store retail sale (stalls, markets and direct sale), by 5% in pharmacies and stores selling cosmetics, and by 1% in stores selling textiles, clothing and footwear. In stores selling via mail order or the internet, turnover volume was down by 6%. Turnover volume fell by 5% in other non-specialised stores selling predominantly manufactured goods (e.g. department stores) and in stores selling household goods and appliances, hardware and building materials.

In September compared with August, the turnover volume of retail trade enterprises was unchanged. According to the seasonally and working-day adjusted data, turnover volume in September was up by 2% from the previous month.

In the first nine months of 2025, the turnover volume of retail trade enterprises increased by 3% compared with the same period of the previous year.

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 29 October 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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