Cross border trade, Q2 2005

Not surprisingly, Sweden is the main destination for Norwegians going shopping abroad, as 85 per cent of the total amount was spent there.

Strømstad main shopping destination

Norwegians spent almost NOK 900 million in Strømstad in the second quarter, making the Swedish town across the border from Norway the main destination for Norwegians going shopping abroad. Strømstad was followed by neighbouring Svinesund, and together Strømstad and Svinesund accounted for slightly more than 50 per cent of Norwegian cross border trade in the period. Charolottenberg was third runner up.

People from Østfold dominate

People living in the southeastern parts of Norway (including Østfold county) spent almost NOK 1 billion on cross border trade in the second quarter of 2005. This corresponds to around NOK 1 500 per inhabitant. People living in Oslo and Akershus spent more than NOK 1 billion on day trips to other countries. This corresponds to around NOK 1 400 per inhabitant.

Norwegians went on 1.7 million day trips abroad in the second quarter of 2005. The majority went to Svinesund, followed by Strømstad and Charlottenberg. The three Swedish towns accounted for almost 65 per cent of all day trips abroad.

In Strømstad, Norwegian day-trippers spent almost NOK 2 200 on average, compared with NOK 1 300 in Svinesund and Charlottenberg.

This survey is based on information from a sample of the population, which means that there may be some uncertainty in the results. For instance, the total amount NOK 2.9 billion is within a 95 per cent confidence interval from NOK 2.3 to NOK 3.4 billion. For more information, go to About the Statistics.

The total of the four quarters of 2004 shows that Norwegians spent NOK 10.2 billion on cross border trade. If we take the uncertainty into account, there is a 95 per cent possibility that the total cross border trade in 2004 ranged between NOK 9.2 and NOK 11.2 billion. Sweden was by far the main destination and accounted for more than 80 per cent of the total cross border trade.

Tables:

• Table 1 Cross border trade. Number of trips, by destination. 1 000
• Table 2 Cross border trade. Shopping spending, by destination. NOK million
• Table 3 Cross border trade. Shopping spending, by region of residence. NOK million