Press releases

The number of persons employed in commerce decreases

The retail sector sales volume* will decrease by around 3.5 per cent this year, and the growth next year will be modest. Commerce investments are also declining. In 2023–2024, the number of people employed in the retail sector will decrease by a total of nearly 4 per cent from 2022. In its labour market reforms, the Government also needs to take into account the employment in consumer services.

The Government Programme’s main policies strengthen economic growth and employment – more ambition is needed in dismantling monopolies 

The Finnish Commerce Federation considers the main policies of the Government Programme to be successful, especially with regard to decisions that strengthen economic growth and employment. However, in structural reforms concerning the dismantling of monopolies, the Government Programme’s policies fall short. The Finnish Commerce Federation hopes that the Government continue determinedly on the path towards a more European operating environment. 

Urban planning in Helsinki city centre lacks a coherent vision and input from business owners

The Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce, the Finnish Hospitality Association MaRa, the Finnish Commerce Federation and Helsingin Yrittäjät, as well as several businesses, appeal to the City of Helsinki to genuinely involve businesses in the development of the city centre. Instead of relying on individual projects, the City of Helsinki should implement a comprehensive and coherent plan to revitalise the city centre and improve the standards for business impact analysis.

The EU Commission proposes to abolish the duty-free regime – it will become more expensive to order small goods from outside the EU  

The European Commission proposes to abolish the duty-free regime for online stores outside the EU as of 1 March 2028. The abolition of the duty-free regime would impact consumers, as ordering low-value small goods from outside the EU would become more expensive in the future. Finnish stores would benefit from the removal of the duty-free regime, as the unfair competitive advantage for companies outside the EU would disappear. The abolition of the duty-free regime would also effectively address fraud.    

Finnish Commerce Federation and Service Union United PAM: A store restraining order enables a safe business and work environment in the commerce sector

The Finnish Commerce Federation and the Service Union United PAM propose to the incoming Orpo government the introduction of a store restraining order, a so-called company restraining order. PAM and the Finnish Commerce Federation consider that, in addition to private persons, companies should also be able to seek a restraining order against persons who continuously cause disturbances.

A new playbook gives companies information on how to accelerate the circular economy  

A new playbook ‘Circular Economy in Consumer Trade’ offers companies in the retail sector information, solutions and examples of how to introduce and implement the sale, rental, maintenance and repair of used products in brick-and-mortar shops and online stores and platforms. The retail sector plays an important role in enabling people to make sustainable consumer choices. 

Digital commerce study module continued at five universities

The Digital commerce study module, which was launched as a joint project between the Finnish Commerce Federation and five universities, will be continued in the study offer of the universities and will be available to university degree students and open university students until spring 2025. The Finnish Commerce Federation will continue to coordinate the study module, and the universities will continue to be responsible for teaching. The study module supports commerce sector companies in their struggle with the deepening shortage of professionals.

The growth of domestic e-commerce has stopped – digital consumerism is changing

The growth of domestic e-commerce, which had continued for more than 10 years, stopped last year while purchases from other EU countries increased. Overall, Finns' online purchases decreased by about six per cent from the previous year. Even though the extra boost in growth brought by the pandemic has now passed, online shopping was still one third more popular than before the pandemic. As online shopping has become more common, the number of product returns has increased.