Retail turnover down again

Dutch retail turnover was 8.5 percent lower in November 2003 than in the same month in 2002. Retail turnover has been decreasing since March 2003 when compared with twelve months previously. Average retail prices were hardly higher in November 2003 than in November 2002.

According to figures from Statistics Netherlands, turnover for non-food shops fell by 10.8 percent in November, while shops selling food, drink and tobacco lost 4.5 percent turnover on twelve months previously. One of the reasons for the lower turnover was a different pattern of shopping days in November 2003 than in November 2002.

Supermarket turnover lower

Supermarket turnover was 3.6 percent lower in November 2003 than in November 2002. Prices were 0.8 percent higher than twelve months previously. In October the price rise was still as much as 2.2 percent. The smaller price increase was caused by the price war between the main Dutch supermarket chains that broke out in the second half of October. Turnover volume for supermarkets fell by 4.3 percent  compared with twelve months previously. However, November had one Friday fewer and one Sunday more than November 2002. After adjustment for the shopping day pattern, the volume change in November is in line with that in October.

Specialist food stores such as greengrocers and butchers realised 9 percent less turnover in November.

Non-food turnover also down

Turnover fell in all non-food branches in November. The strongest decrease was for furniture and clothes shops. 

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