vähittäinen

Vähittäinen is a Finnish adjective meaning related to retail or to the sale of goods to end consumers, typically in small quantities. It is used to describe aspects of commerce that occur at the point of sale to consumers, as opposed to wholesale, which involves larger quantities sold to retailers or other businesses.

Common phrases include vähittäishinta (retail price), vähittäismyynti (retail sale), and vähittäiskauppa (retail trade or retail industry). In economic statistics, vähittäinen myynti refers to consumer sales within a reporting period. The term helps distinguish consumer-oriented pricing, distribution channels, and sales promotions from wholesale activities.

Etymology and usage: the word is formed from the root vähäinen meaning small or minor, with the adjectival suffix -inen, producing a term that denotes a retail-context attribute. It is a standard part of Finnish business language and is widely understood in economics, marketing, and government statistics.

Usage notes: While vähittäiskauppa is the common noun for the retail trade, vähittäinen is used as an attributive adjective to modify nouns indicating retail orientation, such as vähittäinen myynti or vähittäishinta. The term is not typically used to describe wholesale.

Related terms: vähittäiskauppa, tukkukauppa (wholesale), kuluttajamyynnin (consumer sales). See also price definitions and consumer price indices that distinguish retail versus wholesale prices.