Retail sales up 15.6 percent in Estonia in 2004

According to the statistical office, retail sale of goods went up 15.6 percent to EEK 40 billion in 2004.

Retail sales in retail trade companies amounted to EEK 31.5 billion in 2004, up 16.8 percent year-on-year.

In the third quarter of 2004, total net sales of trade enterprises was 12 percent larger than in the same quarter of the previous year in Estonia.

If in the first and second quarter compared to the same period of the previous year the net sales of trade enterprises increased by 14 percent and 18 percent, respectively, then in the third quarter the growth in the net sales of trade enterprises slowed down.

In the third quarter, the net sales of trade enterprises totalled 37.9 billion kroons and the expenditure amounted to 36.4 billion kroons. The gross profit of trade enterprises was 1.6 billion kroons and the net value added was 3.7 billion kroons.

Gross profit represented 4.1 percent of the net sales and trade margin formed 19 percent. At the end of the quarter, the stock of goods in trade enterprises totalled 14.2 billion kroons, which is by 0.3 billion kroons less than at the beginning of the quarter. The sales period of stock of goods was 36 days.

In the third quarter, motor and wholesale trade enterprises sold goods by wholesale for 23.2 billion kroons. Motor trade enterprises contributed 15 percent to total wholesale sales, wholesale enterprises engaged in the sale of fuels, metals, building materials, chemical products and waste accounted for 38 percent, wholesale enterprises of food, beverages and tobacco products accounted for 15 percent and other wholesale enterprises gave 32 percent of wholesale sales.

Compared to the third quarter of 2003, the wholesale sales increased by 2.7 billion kroons or 13 percent. The increase in the wholesale sales of goods was mainly influenced by the growth in the wholesale sales of fuels, metals, building materials, chemical products and waste.

Source : BBN