Strong rise in retail sales

Dutch retailers realised 9.7 percent more turnover in August 2006 than in the same month last year. Shops in the non-food sector in particular booked large turnover increases. According to figures from Statistics Netherlands, retail prices were 1.7 percent higher than twelve months previously, while the volume of sales rose by nearly 8 percent. 

Sharp increase in non-food turnover

Shops in the non-food sector realised substantially more turnover in August 2006 than in the same month last year. Turnover was more than 11 percent higher. Prices rose by 1.7 percent , while the volume of sales was 9.4 percent larger. The cold wet weather in August had a positive effect in the non-food sector.

Shops selling clothes did particularly good business. Their turnover rose by 20 percent in August. Stores retailing home furnishings also realised a substantial increase in turnover. The only sector with a lower turnover than last year was shops selling household items.

Large increase in food retail sales

Shops in the food sector also realised substantially more turnover than in August last year. Their sales rose by nearly 7 percent. Supermarkets did especially well in this sector. Prices in the food sector were 1.6 percent higher, while the volume of turnover grew by 5 percent.