Home > Statistics > Turnover of trade > 2015 > September > Sales continued declining in all sectors of trade in September apart from motor vehicle trade

Published: 12 November 2015

Sales continued declining in all sectors of trade in September apart from motor vehicle trade

According to Statistics Finland, among the sectors of trade the sales in wholesale trade declined most in September, by 7.3 per cent compared to September 2014. In retail trade, sales fell by 1.7 per cent from one year ago. In daily consumer goods trade included in retail trade, sales contracted by 1.6 per cent and in department store trade by 0.6 per cent from one year ago. By contrast, motor vehicle sales grew by 3.5 per cent in September from September 2014. Despite the growth in motor vehicle sales, total trade sales fell by 4.2 per cent due to the weak sales development in wholesale and retail trade.

Annual change in turnover in trade industries, % (TOL 2008)

Sales volume developed more favourably than turnover in September in all sectors of trade

In wholesale trade, the sales volume declined by 3.4 per cent in September from September 2014. In retail trade, the sales volume remained, however, almost on level with the year before as growth amounted to 0.2 per cent from one year ago. In motor vehicle trade, the sales volume, in turn, went up by 3.7 per cent from September 2014. The decline in the sales volume of wholesale trade pushed the volume of total sales down by 1.3 per cent.

The volume index of sales is calculated by removing the effect of price changes from the value index series. The more positive development of sales volume compared with turnover was caused by a drop in prices.

Total trade sales fell by 3.1 per cent year-on-year in January to September

In the January to September, among the sectors of trade, sales only grew in motor vehicle trade, where growth amounted to 0.6 per cent compared to January to September 2014. Among the sectors of trade, wholesale trade decreased most in the corresponding period as the decline amounted to 5.0 per cent year-on-year. In retail trade, sales decreased, in turn, by 1.1 per cent from January to September 2014. Total trade sales fell by 3.1 per cent year-on-year in January to September.

Annual changes in trade sales and sales volumes are given unadjusted for seasonal variation. Annual changes particularly in retail trade may be affected by the number of weekday trading days. There were 26 weekday trading days in September 2015, which is the same as in September 2014. Weekday trading days refer to the weekdays of a calendar month (Monday to Saturday) excluding mid-week holidays.

Source: Turnover of trade, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Milka Suomalainen 029 551 2912, Jarkko Niemistö 029 551 2951, palvelut.suhdanne@stat.fi

Director in charge: Mari Ylä-Jarkko

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Year-on-year change in turnover in trade industries, % (TOL 2008) (12.11.2015)

Figures

• Appendix figure 1. Turnover of motor vehicles, wholesale and retail trade, trend series (TOL 2008) (12.11.2015)

Revisions in these statistics

• Revisions in these statistics (12.11.2015)

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Updated 12.11.2015