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In April 2004 the turnover of the Dutch retail trade was 1.5 percent lower than in April 2003. According to Statistics Netherlands, turnovers have been lower than in the same month of the previous year ever since March 2003. Retail prices in April were down by 1.4 percent on April 2003. Turnover volume stayed virtually the same. Turnover developments in the retail trade in April 2004 were positively influenced by a favourable shopping day pattern compared to April 2003.

Non-food in the red

Non-food stores saw their April turnover go down by 3.6 percent compared to April 2003. Of all the non-food branches, turnover fell most sharply in home furnishings. For two years, turnover in home furnishings has been lower than in the same month of the previous year. Turnover also fell in clothes stores, consumer electronics, DIY and textile supermarkets in April. Drugstores and stores in household appliances increased their turnover on April 2003.

Turnover increase in food

Turnover in food, beverages and tobacco stores increased by 2.8 percent on April 2003. Over 80 percent of their turnover comes from supermarkets. The turnover of the supermarkets increased by 4 percent in April on April 2003. Specialist stores such as greengrocers and butchers saw their turnover in April drop by 3.5 percent.

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