January retail turnover down one percent
According to information released by Statistics Estonia on Friday, the turnover of retail trade enterprises in January decreased one percent on year at constant prices. The decrease in turnover was affected the most by enterprises engaged in the retail sales of automotive fuel.
Last month, the turnover of retail trade enterprises totaled €521.2 million. The decrease in turnover was affected the most by enterprises engaged in the retail sales of automotive fuel, where sales decreased 17 percent compared to last January. This drop in turnover was affected to an extent by the continuing increase in automotive fuel prices.
In January 2018, the turnover of grocery stores decreased two percent on year as well.
The turnover of stores selling manufactured goods increased seven percent compared to January 2017. Turnover increased in most economic activities, with the exception of stores selling second-hand goods and in non-store retail sale, such as stalls, markets, and direct sale, where turnover was smaller than in January 2017.
Turnover increased the most in stores selling household goods and appliances, hardware and building materials, which saw sales increase 13 percent on year. A higher than average increase in turnover was also recorded in stores selling via mail order or the internet (12 percent), in non-specialized stores selling predominantly manufactured goods, i.e. department stores (11 percent), and in stores selling pharmaceutical goods and cosmetics (11 percent).
Compared to December 2017, the turnover of retail trade enterprises decreased by one fifth in January. This is typical following the Christmas season and end-of-year sales in December. According to seasonally and working-day adjusted data, turnover decreased three percent compared to the previous month.
Editor: Aili Vahtla