Higher retail turnover

• Favourable shopping day pattern pushes up turnover growth
• Volume diminishes marginally after correction for shopping days
• Supermarkets perform well
  

In July 2008, retail turnover was 5.4 percent up on the same month last year. According to the latest figures released by Statistics Netherlands, prices rose by over 2 percent, volume by more than 3 percent.

The number of shopping days in July had a positive effect on turnover growth. July 2008 had one Wednesday and one Thursday extra and one Sunday and one Monday less than July 2007. After correction for this effect, turnover growth proves to be distinctly lower (just over 1 percent), volume diminishes by nearly 1 percent.

Supermarkets realised a robust turnover growth by nearly 13 percent in July relative to the same period one year previously. The growth is partly caused by an average price rise of nearly 6 percent. Volume increased by nearly 7 percent. After correction for shopping days, volume growth was just under 2 percent.

Turnover in the non-food sector grew by 2.6 percent in July compared to July last year. The growth is entirely attributable to an increase in sales. After correction for the favourable shopping day pattern, turnover volume shrank by over 1 percent.