Retail trade lost turnover in May

Turnover in Dutch retail trade in May was down by 4.7 percent on May 2004. Prices were 1 percent lower than in May 2004 as well, while turnover volume went down by 3.8 percent. The 7 million private households in the Netherlands shopped for about 840 euro per household in May. This is according to the latest figures by Statistics Netherlands.

The turnover in retail trade is negatively influenced by the difference in shopping day patterns between May this year and May last year.

Turnover food sector down by 3.3 percent

In May 2005 the turnover of shops in food, beverages and tobacco were 3.3 percent lower than in May 2003. Shopping in these stores was 1 percent cheaper. The turnover volume was down by 2.4 percent. The food sector realised about 40 percent of total retail trade turnover.

Turnover in Dutch supermarkets was down 3.4 percent less in May this year than in May 2004. The turnover of specialist stores such as butchers and greengrocers was 3 percent less.

Turnover down in non-food

Turnover in the non-food sector in May was down by 5.8 percent on May 2004. Prices in this period fell by 0.9 percent. Turnover volume shrank by 4.9 percent.

Turnover in May was lower in all non-food branches observed. The greatest loss in turnover in non-food was observed in drugstores, namely 13.6 percent. In the period 2001-2003 drugstores still saw major turnover increases. In 2004 turnover was about the same as in 2003. In the first five months of 2005 drugstores even had 8 percent less turnover than the year before.

The turnover of DIY stores and shops selling household articles also was substantially less in May.

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