Estonia’s retail turnover totalled EUR 10.5bn in 2023, which was down 8% at constant prices compared to 2022, according to preliminary data from Statistics Estonia, ERR reports. The retail turnover of grocery stores declined by 4%, automotive fuel by 5%, and manufactured goods by 11% over a year.
Farmers in Lithuania staged a protest rally in the country’s capital, Vilnius, on 23-25 January 2024, Baltic News Network reported. Around 3,000 farmers gathered in front of the government building with over 1,500 tractors and forestry trucks blocking the city’s main street. The farmers oppose a rise in the excise duty on LPG, a ban…
Latvia’s total retail trade turnover decreased by 2.1% over a year in 2023, according to the Central Statistical Bureau’s (CSP) calendar-adjusted data at constant prices, LSM reported. Retail sales of food products went down by 3.5% and non-food products (except for automotive fuel) by 2.3%, while retail sales of automotive fuel went up by 1.3%.
The EU has suspended its dispute proceedings at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over China’s trade embargo against Lithuania, Politico reported. A spokesman for the European Commission said that the move was a “procedural step” related to the preparation of written submissions. The case will be closed altogether if the suspension lasts longer than 12…
The customs authorities of the three Baltic States have agreed on uniform application of EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus, BNS reports. The directors of the Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian customs departments agreed to introduce stricter controls on sanctioned goods exported to or transiting through Russia and Belarus to third countries. The measures include requiring…
Food prices in Latvia will grow by less than 4% in 2024, Ieva Opmane, economist at the Bank of Latvia, forecast, LSM reports. The price hike will be higher than average inflation but much less than in 2023 and 2022, she said. The rise in food prices will depend on consumer income, energy prices, harvests,…
Estonia’s Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA) received over 4,000 consumer complaints in 2023, which was up from a little over 3,500 in 2022, ERR reported. Of all consumer disputes, over 900 related to leaving contractual agreements and 500 to damage. More than 50% of complaints related to purchases of furniture (around 300), health…
The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has approved amendments raising the smoking age limit from 18 to 20 years as of 1 January 2025, LSM reports. The law covers cigarettes, tobacco products, herbal smoking items, electronic smoking devices, and refill containers. Violations can result in fines of EUR 280-700 for individuals and EUR 700-7,100 for legal…
The chairmen of the foreign affairs committees of the Baltic parliaments, Estonia’s Marko Mihkelson, Latvia’s Rihards Kols, and Lithuania’s Zygimantas Pavilionis, praised Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections held on 13 January 2023, LSM reports. In a joint statement, they said that the elections demonstrated the strength of Taiwan’s “robust democratic system,” saying that the country…