In March, the turnover of retail trade enterprises was EUR 657 million, data from Statistics Estonia showed. Compared to March 2020, turnover increased by 4% at constant prices.
Jaanika Tiigiste, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that despite the coronavirus-related restrictions that were re-introduced in March, retail trade enterprises recorded turnover growth.
“Among the stores selling manufactured goods, turnover fell in department stores, clothing and footwear stores, pharmacies and cosmetics stores, while internet shops had a considerable increase in sales, and turnover went up also in home goods stores,” added Tiigiste.
The turnover of stores selling manufactured goods increased by 6% YoY. The biggest growth, of 70%, was recorded in stores selling via mail order or the internet. Turnover increased by 14% in stores selling household goods and appliances, hardware and building materials, and by 10% in stores selling second-hand goods and in non-store retail sale (stalls, markets, direct sale).
Turnover decreased by 13% in pharmacies and stores selling cosmetics, by 9% in stores selling textiles, clothing and footwear, by 6% in other specialized stores selling predominantly computers and their accessories, books, sports equipment, games, toys, etc., and by 5% in other non-specialized stores selling predominantly manufactured goods (department stores).
Compared to March 2020, turnover increased by 2% in grocery stores and by 5% in enterprises engaged in the retail sale of automotive fuel.
In March compared to February, the turnover of retail trade enterprises increased by 10%. According to the seasonally and working-day adjusted data, turnover decreased by 1%.
In the first three months of 2021, the turnover of retail trade enterprises increased by 5% compared to the same period of the previous year. (ERR/Business World Magazine)