Retail turnover marginally down

• Turnover non-food sector down
• Supermarket sales up
• Substantial growth mail-order firms and online shops

According to the latest figures released by Statistics Netherlands, May’s retail turnover was 0.6 percent down from May 2012. Retail volume shrank by 3.0 percent, while retail prices were 2.5 percent higher.

The shopping-day pattern was more favourable in May 2013 than in the same month last year. The positive effect of the shopping-day pattern on total retail turnover is estimated at approximately 2 percent.

Turnover generated by the non-food sector was nearly 4 percent down in May. Retail volume fell by more than 5 percent. Turnover declined across all branches in the non-food sector. Consumer electronics shops and DIY shops suffered most.

Food, drinks and tobacco shops realised a 5 percent turnover growth relative to May 2012. The growth was largely due to an average price increase by more than 4 percent. Volume growth was nearly 1 percent. Supermarkets entirely accounted for the growth in this branch.

With 11 percent, mail-order firms and online shops generated a turnover growth in the double digits in May compared to the same month last year.