Home > Statistics > Turnover of trade > 2008 > March > Retail trade flash estimate: retail trade sales down by 0.3 per cent in March

Published: 28 April 2008

Retail trade flash estimate: retail trade sales down by 0.3 per cent in March

According to Statistics Finland's retail trade flash estimate, the sales of retail trade decreased by 0.3 per cent in March from one year previously. Sales volume fell by 3.9 per cent during the same period. The decrease in sales was mainly due to Easter being in March this year, while last year it was in April. The number of trading days in March this year was three less than in the corresponding month last year.

The retail trade flash estimate is based on a sample covering, on average, 50 per cent of retail trade turnover. Data on trade sales by industry will next be released on 13 May 2008.

Development of value and volume of retail trade sales, March 2008

	Index point figure	Annual change in the most recent month %*	Cumulative annual change %**
	03/2008	03/2008	01-03/2008
Value	136.5	-0.3	6.8
Volume	125.5	-3.9	3.6
*) Annual change compares March 2008 to the corresponding month of the year before. **) The cumulative annual change compares January-March 2008 to the corresponding period of the year before.

Flash estimates on retail trade are published at a lag of just under a month after the end of the statistical reference month. The preliminary data on motor vehicle, wholesale and retail trade based on a more extensive sample will be published, as before, at a lag of roughly 11/2 months after the end of the statistical reference month and the data revised on the basis of the total data are published at a lag of roughly 21/2 months.

A new calculation method of turnover and wage bill indicators will be introduced by summer 2008. Data on 2008 may become slightly revised due to the new calculation method. Further information on the methodological revision is available from Mr Antti Santaharju, tel. +358 9 1734 2720.

Source: Retail trade flash estimate 2008, March. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Mr Aki Niskanen +358 9 1734 2657, palvelut.suhdanne@stat.fi

Director in charge: Ms Hannele Orjala

Releases

• Retail trade sales fell by 0.2 per cent in March (13.5.2008)

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Last updated 28.4.2008