Decline in retail trade turnover in October was most affected by grocery stores
According to Statistics Estonia, in October, the turnover of retail trade enterprises was 896 million euros. Compared with October 2021, turnover decreased by 4% at constant prices.
Johanna Linda Pihlak, analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that while turnover fell by 6% in September compared with September 2021, the decline slowed somewhat in October. “The decrease in retail trade turnover in October was influenced the most by grocery stores, where turnover fell by 7% year on year,” Pihlak added.
The turnover of stores selling manufactured goods was down by 4% compared with October last year. “Of these, turnover decreased the most, by 14%, in stores selling household goods and appliances, hardware and building materials,” Pihlak said. The drop in turnover was also larger-than-average (6%), in other non-specialised stores selling predominantly manufactured goods (i.e. department stores), and turnover of pharmacies and stores selling cosmetics was down by 4%. Turnover increased by 9% in other specialised stores selling predominantly computers and their accessories, books, sports equipment, games, toys, etc., and remained at the previous year's level in stores selling second-hand goods and non-store retail sale (stalls, markets, and direct sale).
The turnover of enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel was up by 6% compared with October last year.
In October, the turnover of retail trade enterprises remained at the same level as in September. According to the seasonally and working-day adjusted data, the decrease was 1%.
In the first ten months of 2022, the turnover of retail trade enterprises increased by 3% compared with the same period of 2021.
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.
For further information:
Helen Maria Raadik
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 625 9181
press [at] stat.ee (press[at]stat[dot]ee)