Turnover in retail trade lower due to unfavourable shopping day pattern

In August 2004, turnover in the Dutch retail trade was down by 5.6 percent on August 2003. This decrease is largely due to a less favourable shopping day pattern in August 2004 compared to 2003. Adjusted for this difference, however, turnover in the retail trade  was slightly higher than in 2003 according to the latest figures by Statistics Netherlands.

The retail trade figures for the period February 2003 through June 2004 were adjusted because of the introduction of a new calculation method.

Less turnover in the food sector

In August 2004 the turnover of stores selling food, beverages and tobacco was down by more than 8 percent on the turnover of August last year. Once corrected for the shopping day effect, the decrease in turnover is slight.

Supermarkten saw their August turnover decrease by more than 8 percent on the previous year. Specialised stores in food, beverages and tobacco, such as greengrocers and butchers, also saw a drop of more than 8 percent on August last year.

Turnover non-food down as well

Turnover of non-food in August 2004 was down by 5 percent on August last year. Once corrected for shopping day patterns, however, there is a modest increase in turnover.

Stores in consumer electronics had an August turnover decrease of more than 7 percent on August 2003. This was mainly generated by specialist computer stores. The turnover of drugstores and stores selling household goods fell by about 6 percent.

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