Home > Statistics > Turnover of trade > 2009 > February > Retail trade sales fell by 5.8 per cent in February

Published: 15 April 2009

Retail trade sales fell by 5.8 per cent in February

According to Statistics Finland, retail trade sales fell by 5.8 per cent in February from February 2008. Sales volume fell by 7.8 per cent during the same time period. Daily consumer goods sales fell as well, by 1.8 per cent. The biggest part of the decrease in retail sales is explained by the leap year, which means that February 2009 had one trading day less than the year before.

In wholesale trade sales decreased by 13.8 per cent, reflecting the subdued development in manufacturing. Due to a decline in the domestic demand and transit exports of cars, motor vehicle sales contracted by 32.1 per cent from the year before. In total trade sales fell by 14.4 per cent in February.

In retail trade sales in January-February fell by 2.2 per cent. During the same time period, motor vehicle sales were 31.9 per cent and wholesale trade sales 16.5. per cent down on the year before. In total trade sales fell by 15.4 per cent in January-February.

Annual change in turnover in trade industries by quarter, February 2009 and early part of 2009, % (TOL 2008)

	Annual change by quarter %				Annual change in latest month %*	Cumulative annual change**
	01-03/08	04-06/08	07-09/08	10-12/08	02/09	01-02/2009
Total trade (G)	8,3	11,0	10,1	-2,4	-14,4	-15,4
Motor vehicle trade (45)	3,8	6,9	6,2	2,1	-32,1	-31,9
Wholesale trade (46)	10,3	13,6	13,3	-5,4	-13,8	-16,5
Retail trade (47)	6,8	8,0	5,4	2,4	-5,8	-2,2
- daily consumer goods trade***	9,2	8,8	8,6	7,0	-1,8	3,2
*) Annual change compares February 2009 to the corresponding month of the year before. **) The cumulative annual change compares January-February 2009 to the corresponding period of the year before. ***) According to the Register of Enterprises and Establishments, the share of daily consumer goods (4711, 472) or turnover in retail trade was 32 per cent in 2007.

The standard industrial classification TOL 2008 and base year 2005=100 were introduced in these statistics starting from data concerning January 2009. Further information about the TOL 2008 classification is available in the TOL 2008 section on Statistics Finland's website. Further information about the adoption of TOL 2008 in statistics describing turnover in trade is available under Revisions in these statistics.

Source: Turnover of trade 2009, February. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Retail trade: Mr Marko Tuomiaro +358 9 1734 2705 and

Ms Eeva Immonen +358 9 1734 3464
Motor vehicle trade and Wholesale trade: Ms Aila Kovanen +358 9 1734 3384

Director in charge: Ms Hannele Orjala

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Last updated 15.4.2009