Quarterly turnover in retail trade lower again

In the second quarter of 2004, the Dutch retail trade saw its turnover go down by 2.7 percent compared to the same quarter of 2003. It is the fifth quarter in a row that the turnover of Dutch retail trade was lower than in the same quarter of the previous year, according to Statistics Netherlands. The decrease is not as great as in the preceding three quarters. In the fourth quarter of 2003, turnover fell by 4.6 percent, and in the first quarter of 2004 it was down by 3.7 percent on the year before.

Shopping became 1.5 percent cheaper in the second quarter than it was the year before. The turnover volume in retail trade fell by 1.2 percent.

3 percent less turnover in non-food

Non-food stores had 3 percent less turnover in the second quarter of 2004 than in the second quarter of 2003. Turnover fell most in home furnishings stores. Shops selling consumer electronics, textile super markets and clothes stores saw a substantial decrease in turnover in the second quarter. Stores selling household articles, drugstores and building supplies increased their turnover on the year before.

Turnover food sector falling

Stores selling food, beverages and tobacco produced 1.6 percent less turnover in the second quarter than in the same quarter of 2003. Over 8o percent of the turnover in food is generated by super markets. The turnover of super markets in the second quarter was down by 0.5 percent on the previous year. Prices fell by 2.1 percent, while turnover volume rose by 1.6 percent. Specialised food stores such as butchers and greengrocers had a 7 percent drop in turnover.

Turnover retail trade increased slightly in June

In June the turnover of the Dutch retail trade was 0.7 percent higher than in June 2003. Shopping prices were 1.6 percent below the June 2003 level, while the turnover volume grew by 2.3 percent. Developments in turnover were influenced positively by the shopping day pattern. June 2004 had a more favourable shopping day pattern than June 2003. The turnover figure for June, corrected for the shopping day pattern, was lower than in June 2003.

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