Growth in commerce sector sales strengthened in March – positive development in all sectors of commerce
Turnover in trade and the sales volume increased broadly in all main sectors in March. According to Statistics Finland, the working day adjusted turnover of the entire commerce sector increased by 4.9 per cent and the sales volume increased by 3.6 per cent when compared to the previous year. The development is a welcome sign of the gradual recovery of demand.
The growth of commerce was driven by the wholesale trade, where the sales volume increased by 4.1 per cent. Growth was particularly strong in other specialised wholesale trade, where the sales volume increased by 8.9 per cent.
Growth also continued in the retail sector: the sales volume increased by 3.9 per cent in March when compared to the previous year. This indicates that consumption demand is gradually strengthening.
The volume of car sales increased by 1.6 per cent when compared to the previous year. The development is still slower compared to the rest of commerce, but the direction is positive.
The development of commerce sector sales has been positive in both the retail and wholesale trade since autumn 2025, and growth has continued in early 2026.
“Growth in commerce sector sales is a welcome sign of the recovery of demand. There is also positive preliminary information on the sales in April. Although consumer confidence has weakened in the spring, it seems that the stagnant demand has started to emerge as growth in sales since the autumn,” says Kari Luoto, Managing Director of the Finnish Commerce Federation.
For further information, please contact: Kari Luoto, Managing Director, Finnish Commerce Federation, tel. +358 (0) 400 688 708, kari.luoto(at)kauppa.fi