Substantial rise for retail turnover

Dutch retailers realised 5.6 percent more turnover in January 2006 than in the same month last year. Shops in the non-food sector did particularly well. The volume of retail also rose by 5.6 percent . Prices remained at about the same level. Retail turnover was affected positively by the more favourable shopping day pattern in January 2006 than in January 2005. According to figures from Statistics Netherlands, this accounts for about half of the increase in turnover .

Hefty increase in non-food turnover

Shops in the non-food sector realised substantially more turnover in January 2006: they booked 6.9 percent more than in January last year. The turnover volume was 7.6 percent higher, while prices were 0.6 percent lower.

Turnover was higher in all branches of the non-food sector in January this year than in January last year. Turnover rose by most in the textile supermarkets: they realised 9.5 percent more turnover. Shops selling home furnishings and furniture, clothes and consumer electronics also sold more.

Turnover also up in food sector

Shops selling food, drink and tobacco booked 3.3 percent more turnover in January this year than in the same month last year. Prices in these shops were 1.1 percent higher, turnover volume rose by 2.2 percent. The turnover growth in supermarkets was larger than that in the specialist food shops. Supermarkets booked 3.4 percent more turnover, specialist shops 2.8 percent more.