In March 2025, Estonia's retail sales experienced a 1.8% increase compared to the same month the previous year, showing a deceleration from the almost three-year peak growth rate of 4.4% recorded in February. This represented the fourth month in a row of upward retail activity, though at a less robust pace. Sales growth moderated in segments such as automotive fuel, which rose by 14.7%, down from 21.3% in February. Similarly, sales of computers, peripheral equipment, and software, along with telecommunications gear in specialized stores, grew by 24.9%, compared to 27.7% previously.
Meanwhile, non-specialized stores saw a decline in trade, with sales dropping by 6%, compared to a 4.5% decrease earlier. There was also a decrease in sectors such as second-hand goods, kiosks, markets, and other retail outlets not housed in traditional store settings, which fell by 1.5% after previously showing a 10.1% rise.
On a positive note, sales via mail orders or online platforms improved, rising by 1.6% after a previous downturn of 7.1%. The sales of medical and orthopedic goods, alongside cosmetics and toilet articles, saw growth, increasing by 6.6% versus 3.7% in the previous period. Although sales of textiles, clothing, footwear, and leather goods continued to decrease, they fell at a slower rate, marked at -1.4% compared to a sharper drop of -7.9% earlier. On a month-to-month basis, retail activity robustly increased by 12.1%, recovering significantly from a 2.7% fall observed in the previous period.
