Statistics Sweden is currently publishing preliminary sales statistics to provide early data on the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the Swedish economy. This publication does not form part of the ordinary statistics production.

Sales decreased by 1 percent in December 2020, seasonally adjusted and compared with November 2020. The annual rate of sales decreased by 4 percent in current prices, adjusted for calendar effects. Non-calendar-adjusted sales in current prices were 1 percent higher in December 2020 than in December a year ago.

Table 1. Sales at current prices¹ compared with the same period last year, weighted by sales

1) Not adjusted for calendar effects. 2) Industry turnover as a share of the business sector. 3) Business, excluding real estate, financial activities, education, and healthcare.

Table 2. Sales in current prices¹ compared with the same period last year, weighted by gross added value

1)     Not adjusted for calendar effects. 2) Industry value added as a share of the business sector. 3) Business, excluding real estate, financial activities, education, and healthcare.

This is the final publication of the sales indicator. This publication was a form of provisional statistics produced in view of unusually large anticipated changes in the economy in the second and third quarters of 2020. In 2021, Statistics Sweden will bring forward the publication of other, regular statistics to meet the same need.

Facts: Preliminary sales statistics

These preliminary statistics are produced in order to provide a current picture of the economic situation in the business sector. The statistics are based on VAT data, supplemented in December with data from the Production Value Index (PVI). For December, the weighted response rate was 64 percent, somewhat lower than in previous months. The statistics are considered to maintain a high level of quality for the business sector as a whole and for the sub-sectors goods industry and service industry.

Although the uncertainty is greater concerning individual industries, the statistics indicate an expected development. The figures are only published in current prices, and there were two more working days in December 2020 than in December 2019.