Retail turnover down in December

• Retail volume substantially down
• Unfavourable shopping-day pattern
• Turnover down in non-food sector

The value of retail sales was 4.1 percent down in December 2012 from December 2011. According to the latest figures released by Statistics Netherlands, retail volume shrank by 6.7 percent, retail prices were 2.8 percent higher relative to December 2011.

The shopping-day pattern in December last year was less favourable than in December 2011. The negative effect of the shopping-day pattern on total retail turnover is estimated at approximately 4 percent.

Turnover generated by shops in the food, drinks and tobacco branch was the same as one year previously. The volume of sales was nearly 4 percent down, prices were nearly 4 percent up. The negative effect of the shopping-day pattern on the branch was about 5 percent. Supermarkets managed to conclude the year with a modest turnover growth, but total turnover realised by specialist shops dropped dramatically.

Non-food shops faced a turnover loss of approximately 7 percent. The volume of non-food sales declined by nearly 8 percent. All branches in the non-food sector had to cope with loss of turnover. Home furnishing shops, DIY shops and textile supermarkets were hit hardest.

Mail-order firms and online shops generated a 9 percent turnover growth. December showed the same pattern as the first eleven months of 2012, when these shops also performed much better than traditional shops.